Do you have to start at a very early age to swim and compete in the Olympics?

Question

swimming is not a major sport in my country..

if i do have a son or daughter, can i start them at age 3 to swim and progress..

Answer 1

You should start them swimming competitively by age 3 or 4, which means that you should have them in the pool from birth on up. They need to be able to do strokes by 3, at least that would be ideal.

Answer 2

Crazy,

It's not that important to start them at such an early age. Most Olympic swimmers begin when they're somewhere around 10-12 years old. The reason I say this is because a lot of good young swimmers are 'burnt out' on swimming by their teen years if they're pushed when they're so young.

Case in point: I began swimming when I was 11 and there were several local swimmers in my state that were world ranked for the 8-U and 10-U divisions the years before. They were simply 'destroying' me. But as I developed and began achieve 'B', then 'A' ('AA', 'AAA', and 'AAAA'), then regional, then junior national, then senior national, and eventually Olympic Trials Standards I passed them up in a few short years and they gave the sport up.

Go ahead and start them at 3 or 4 if they really enjoy it but I'd be hesitant to push them into a competitive program this early for fear of the burn out mentioned above.

Good luck with your choice.

Enjoy!

Answer 3

It doesn't really matter what age they are as long as they LOVE it. To go to the Olympics they have to fall in love with the sport. If you do start them early it is and advantage, but like I said they MUST love it. Never say they can't quit if they don't like it, a lot of time kids will quit, `cause they miss there tv show or something. If they do want to quit and you have to give them opportunity let them quit for awhile. Just make sure they know you are there and encourage them to go back in, don't push. Make sure THEY want it, not just you. I swam when I was little and quit, but now I'm on the Swimming & Diving team of my high school. And there are other sports in the Olympics, let them explore other sports so they won't wounder what else is out there. Maybe your children are Track & Field stars. But to answer your question, yea 3-7 are great times. Michael Phelps started at 11.  

Answer 4

no,  look at ed moses an olympian some years ago he began very late in his late teens.

Didn't start swimming year round until senior year of high school ... enjoys playing golf ... majoring in athletic training.

Answer 5

that's not always the case. there are those olympians who have been familiar with the water since they were just toddlers and there are those, like sylvia mentioned, Ed Moses, who swam senior year in high school. (however, keep in mind he didnt START his senior, he swam when he was younger but stopped to play other sports such as golf. the summer of his senior year was when he started to kick things up a notch by applying himself to a swim camp.)

-simply put, it's up to you how much your son or daughter applies him or herself to the sport :]

Ed Moses is the true breaststroker. NOT brendan hansen :]