you actually can’t for most races, only in international relays. El nino has had a couple of “fastest” in medley relays; back. Something about racing as part of a team really finds that little extra.
Yer that was pretty good but Pan Zhanle swam a 45.92 within a relay at the recent Olympics, fastest “leg” in history. Crazy swim.
my favourite relay is the still the 4 x 100free of 2008
The thing that, for me, set Sydney apart, was:
1 - The US had never been beaten in a 4x100 free up to the Olympics
2 - It was being held in Sydney and won by Australia, the atmosphere was electric.
3 - It was a close race and the lead was changing about.
4 - Klim broke the WR on the first leg
4 - Ian Thorpe, not even a 100 free specialist, was on the last leg and had just won the 400 free in the same session.
5 - Gary Hall Jr overtakes Thorpey, then Thorpey comes back past Gary Hall Jnr in almost the last stroke !
Unbloodybelievable ! !
That’s what I was going to reply with. Although 2000 guitars (or was it banjos?) is right up there
100% don’t judge, it’s supposed to be fun
We’ll forget about the fact Aus should have technically been DQed because Thorpey got out before the race finished !
It’d have been a travesty had that happened though.
It’s not just me though is it, it’s pretty much everyone.
His prev squad even had certificates they gave out when various times were achieved in 50ms of each stroke.
I agree it’s supposed to be fun and for me as a parent the social side (and the positive effect it has, and hopefully will continue to have, on his physical and mental health) is as important, more important in fact, than the swimming.
But you’re timing him at an event that isn’t timed (based on H’s info above). I understand the squad giving out cert’s, I suspect that is designed to provide motivation. But you’re his dad, just take the official timing when available. His squad or Yorks Champ’s entry won’t be gained by timing from you.
But he’ll know he can do it because he’s done it, surely that must have a positive effect on his self confidence ?
The question of enjoyment v times is a circular one though is it not ?
Speaking for myself I did not particularly like competing (in Masters) but that was because I never swam as fast as I should have done (compared to my training times)… If I’d have swum faster I’d have enjoyed it more !
The positive is that having given up competing (other than the parents race ! ) I do still swim, with all the benefits to mental and physical health.
Right up until the occasion where it doesn’t…
Like football academies, swim squads mostly exist around getting 1 or perhaps two people to a highly competitive level. The rest fill up the numbers. it is true that there is pretty good evidence that swimming is an early specialisation sport…but that is the skill development, not the performance…
and what if you didn’t, would you have enjoyed t less?
It is worth pointing out that a young Alastair would not have made the qualification times to get into a triathlon academy…
Actually I can remember the head of the club my lad’s in now saying the following to me when he started:
“City of Sheffield Swim squad are looking for the next Adam Peaty, but we aren’t. Our goal is for our swimmers to still be swimming when they’re older”
And COSS really are about the numbers. They’ll take swimmers who are nothing special (for their age, one was invited to join and she was slower than my boy despite being older) and then work them hard. They expect 90% to drop out, and of the remainder only 10% will become what they’re really looking for.
One welcome side effect of this policy is more income !
I am not picking on COSS, I am sure many other squads are the just same.
I’m referring to this a lot his month - Alistair’s book Relentless focusses on how across sports it is th tenaciousness to continue in the face of adversity that is common is career success and that early success can lead to early exit from the sport.
Yes
Good point for my lad, but, in my case, that hardly applies to a masters swimmer does it !
And that applies to every area of life.
So you don’t know if you’re enjoying something until after you have completed the activity and get external reinforcement.
I understand a feeling of satisfaction or similar but if you’re enjoying it, surely you’re enjoying it?
I, as a coach, certainly value effort, commitment, timekeeping and ability to listen way above times and size as kids will eventually grow and times will improve if the former is on point.
One of the issues they have tried to address in swimming is the focus on performance and outcome goals at an early age, but it doesn’t go far enough, too much emphasis on performance to get those illustrious county times, I think 10 for county champs, 11 for regional and 12 for English Nats is too young, for me it should be older 12/13/14 at least. The development pathway, for county is 12, again way too young to identify “talent” as is 14 for national, again add 2 years to those.
So bottom line is times still matter immensely once you get to 10+; early developers get moved up squads quicker, getting more pool time and generally accelerating development further, they qualify for and gain experience at big events earlier and end up on talent pathways. Same in all sports really, but early developers have more opportunities open to them at a younger age. Its not set in stone, hard work and following the process has a habit of catching up with you as you then develop but you are on the back foot if you arent “elite” at 12! It’s keeping those kids motivated and turning up that good coaching comes in.
then drop the performance measures would perhaps be a recommendation…
Can you perhaps see some limitations in projecting your thinking onto your son?
it was for your lad
Yep
they do, because the current model focusses on that
facilities is a limitation, but if you change the model, that frees up the time…
change the model
I, and I guess lots in shoes like ours, have many ideas to change the model, but as you are well aware, those at the top never listen to the boots on the ground and those that try to rock the boat invariably end up outside “the circle of trust”
way outside as in my case…
Is/was there a national junior swim meet in Sheffield this weekend? Mate tells me his daughter took a PB on Friday in the U14s.
I’m observing a County Qualifier L3 in Amersham this afternoon. I think people are trying to get qualifying times for a County championship but I haven’t really got much of a clue.