Obviously not a swimming expert here, but I notice there are always a large number of elite teenagers every olympics. Also it seems that world records get broken like every year. Why is that? Is it just very watered down competition?
Obviously not a swimming expert here, but I notice there are always a large number of elite teenagers every olympics. Also it seems that world records get broken like every year. Why is that? Is it just very watered down competition?
Assuming your observation is statistically verified, then it raises a legitimate question you’ve put forth, indicating peak capability for the sport trends to the teenage years.
It might be a new trend. You can maybe look at swim technology, mainly women's suits lengths, and line up the younger ages now with the introduction of faster, longer suits.
To add, science has determined age 25 is when humans peak in physical strength.
It does appear an oddity in swimming that even with having additional years of practice, coinciding with peak physical strength, nonetheless the sport produces a high number of teenage phenoms.
Dr. DETROIT wrote:
Obviously not a swimming expert here, but I notice there are always a large number of elite teenagers every olympics. Also it seems that world records get broken like every year. Why is that? Is it just very watered down competition?
Same reason most of the elite gymnasts are teenagers. They start when they're like 2 year's old, so they reach their career peak a lot earlier right when their bodies. Elite gymnasts and swimmers are not like elite runners. One starts at the age of 2, the other around the age of 10 or 11.
Even with "elite" age-group runners who do start super early their abilities usually peak in high school as well. The Garrisons family is a perfect example.
Also, their bodies are typically a lot lighter in their teens, right around the time they've reached the 10-yr mark in their training. So everything comes together perfect timing.
The OP was contending it is something he has observed over multiple Olympic cycles. rather than a “new trend”.
Physical strength and appendage ‘paddle’ (hands and feet) size would favor the more mature early 20’s, but the ‘lightness’ factor, putting them higher in the water, might be the key.
weighing in with my 2c wrote:
Physical strength and appendage ‘paddle’ (hands and feet) size would favor the more mature early 20’s, but the ‘lightness’ factor, putting them higher in the water, might be the key.
They're more buoyant as teen as well since teens tend to have a higher percentage of healthy bodyfat, especially girls as they mature into teenagers.
Current elite swimmers went from swimming lessons while still in diapers or soon after then to swim club in early elementary school years. Since swimmers do not fight gravity as do jumpers, runners, sprinters and throwers, swimmers are capable of withstanding higher volume of training than can be tolerated by runners at an early age. Swimmers, especially female swimmers often suffer extreme wear & tear on shoulders. Often teenage female swimmers have or will have significant shoulder injuries. I will leave it to others to speculate about psychological burnout for swimmers. Shoulder injuries contribute to swimmers peaking early.
Female Gymnast are even younger than swimmers at Olympic Level, They have been accused of cheating by saying they are older than they really are.
Bone density increases with age and a higher bones density makes swimming harder.
Swimming is a joke of a sport compared to Running. The human body is not made for swimming it was made to run.
adidas5 wrote:
Swimming is a joke of a sport compared to Running. The human body is not made for swimming it was made to run.
while the second part of your statement seems plausible. swimming in the us is massively more competitive than running. give it a try and find out what a joke it is. a number of great american runners failed first as swimmers.
Running is vastly more available to the general population than swimming, making the former more competitive due to sheer numbers competing. Whether or not some good runners were not as good of swimmers says nothing with regard to which sport is more ‘competitive’.
But if the comparison is being made to ‘niche’ segments of running, like ‘ultra-running’, then the analysis is not straightforward.
A couple of hypotheses:
) teenagers have more flexible bodies with bones and tendons not fully formed yet so are able to flop around more naturally like a fish.
) swimming is a technique sport and is constantly improving as better techniques are developed. The older swimmers are already mostly stuck with the older techniques they're used to. The younger swimmers are using the latest new techniques.
) swimming is a kid's summer recreation sport, for goofing off all day every day. It's not a sport for people with jobs, such as adults.
There's no viable professional swimming. Once someone reaches 21 or 22 they have to get a job. Only one or two American swimmers can live off of sponsorship, and it doesn't last long.
adidas5 wrote:
Swimming is a joke of a sport compared to Running. The human body is not made for swimming it was made to run.
The early humans and human ancestors had to cross rivers and streams you know....
Technique is key in swimming. I am pretty fit and I get passed by old fat senior citizens in the pool. My form is pretty bad and I naturally don’t float well on top of the water.
I’m more gassed swimming 400M slowly than I am running a 5K race.
Also, the low impact training of swimming allows for double workouts almost every day. You can put in thousands of training hours by your early teens.
vaccinated wrote:
There's no viable professional swimming. Once someone reaches 21 or 22 they have to get a job. Only one or two American swimmers can live off of sponsorship, and it doesn't last long.
I think it has to do with this. Not much opportunity past college.
Don't compare swimming and gymnastics, those are two completely unrelated sports that have very different demands.