WhyFi

I think that it'd be really cool, just because some of the human scale gets lost in TV translation. I remember the first NFL game that I went to and the absolute slack-jawed wonder at seeing Robert Smith (not the singer, but former Viking and damn-near world-class track star at Ohio State) run a simple sweep. Seeing the best of the best do their thing in person is awe inspiring.

Velo Vol 

One of them is 41.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/juliegerste...5V#.ci4qV9gnq9

Velo Vol 

Will trade places.

Dan333SP

+1. First world problems for sure.

Dan333SP

Maybe @Doug28450 has some insight into this.

Why is it that, as Olympic-caliber swimmers age, they tend to remain competitive at the shorter events but struggle with the longer races? That seems to be very different than cycling, although the stresses on the body aren't really comparable.

The age outliers are interesting, though. Like Doug points out, most tend to peak in their late teens/early 20s. Dara Torres was able to medal when she returned to competition in 2008 at the age of 40 and after childbirth. She just barely missed out on qualifying for the 2012 Olympic team as well. Her first ever Olympics was back in 1984 in Los Angeles.

If she'd managed to get on to the 2012 team (and I think she was just a few hundredths from qualifying), that would have been 28 years between first and last appearance. That's insane for any sport, but especially swimming.

Doug28450

That is true, there is one 41 year old gymnast. On the other side of the coin, most of the Chinese female gymnasts are 13 years old. I believe that 13 in the minimum age for Olympic competition. I could look it up on Google, but I'm lazy.

Dan333SP

It's actually 16 these days, which is why Simone Biles wasn't able to compete in London even though she's 19 now. China's athletes obviously get them in hot water because they look much younger than that and there's evidence of manipulated birth certificates and the like.

Doug28450

Gymnasts have the tricks to do, the spins, flips and other elements. Most of those are very taxing on the body. In addition, the smaller frame of the younger girls makes them more capable of performing those tricks.

As for swimming, as the swimmers age, they can continue to gain strength and muscle mass. They do not have to do the stunts and tricks. Get in the water and swim fast. As a result it is reasonable for older swimmers to remain competitive.

Dan333SP

Right, but they tend to do shorter races, don't they? Maybe I'm imagining that, but I can't recall any "older" swimmers being competitive in events longer than 200 meters.

WhyFi

IF there is something to that, and your observation isn't completely crazy, maybe it has to do with muscle mass/buoyancy?

Doug28450

Maybe a perception. There are simply fewer events 400 m and over.

Look at the number of events at 200 m and under versus 400 m and over.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swimmi...ummer_Olympics

Doug28450

Certainly possible.

topslop1

The boss and I both wear and like Aldens. Instant friendship.

f4rrest

Speed Queen top loader.

Not high efficiency but old school effective.

And no mold.

And you can add stuff you forgot.

And it's only $850..

Dan333SP

We got our washer/dryer from one of those Sears outlet stores with scratch 'n dent appliances.

I think the set was less than $800 and they were brand new. Not exactly the fanciest appliances but they are decently sized and they've worked reliably for 3 years.

f4rrest

Lolz. Our last washer lasted 20 years.

f4rrest

I guess I'm an appliance retrogrouch

Velo Vol 

Doug28450

We bought our refrigerator from the scratch and dent section of Lowe's.

We were looking in the regular section and I went for a stroll to the s&d section. I saw one there that looked pretty good and the dent wasn't too bad. I went back to the regular section and Mrs. Doug28450 had found one she liked, but she didn't like the price tag. I said we can get it cheaper than that and we went to the s&d section. Initially, she did not believe it was the same one, but the model numbers were a match. We bought the s&d model for about half of regular price.

ltxi

My pervert younger sister married our oldest first cousin...can't blame him, she usta be hot....about 32 years ago. It's made for some interesting family reunions over the years

Trsnrtr

Re: older athletes.

In the case of Phelps, he now concentrates on power and speed for shorter distances supposedly because of his age. His times are running within a second of his times four years ago according to what I heard on the news tonight.

Doug28450

In swimming, like track, athletes tend to be better as sprinters or distance, but not both. Katie Ledecky breaks that generality though.

rpenmanparker 

Not uncommon. We have friends in the same situation.

Doug28450

Do banjos follow them around?

rpenmanparker 

Agreed but why is the musculature so loose? When you see them going through their silly machinations, slapping themselves silly, swinging their arms around, shaking their arms, the muscles look crazy flabby. Is that just an illusion?