I'm too old to start swimming?

Question

I've been researching a little bit and one of my favorite pass-times as a child was swimming which I learned the breast stroke (my favorite stroke) at the age of three.

I've swam occasionally all my life but I've never took it up as anything more then a little fun but I've got a strong natural talent for it and a good feel of the water and I'm thinking of taking it up as a full-time sport and dedicating most of the immense amount of spare-time I have to swimming.

I've spent the last day or two researching Michael Phelps and I've done a good comparison to my own body and Michael's body and we have near-exact similar bodies if he was my age. (The difference being that my legs are longer and I probably have nowhere near the same Lactate levels, Ha-ha!)

The only thing I'm worried about is that I'm currently fifteen (Sixteen in september) and have never joined a club nor have I ever swam competitively before other then carnivals at school. Am I too old to take up swimming and expect anything more then a spot on the school team and has there been any other late-bloomers in sports who have done well to succeed?

Thanks.

Answer 1

No, your not too old. If you really have the talent, then just do your best, who knows you might even represent your country in the olympics four years from now! :D If you really enjoy swimming I'm sur you'll do fine

Answer 2

Go for it!

Answer 3

NOOOO!!!! I going to the 11th grade and I been swimming scenes the Four grade your never to old to swim never

Answer 4

go for it! you might not make a million gold medals in the olympics but its worth a shot! maybe you'll make a good college team.. don't waste your natural ability! plus scholarships!

Answer 5

no, you are not too old joins a boys and girls club or what ever club you may like and have fun it's a great idea.  

Answer 6

Nope nope it's never to late go for it hun!

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Can you relate to this?

Answer 7

no just do it if you like it it wont hurt and i know ppl that start when there in there 40s

Answer 8

your never to old to start a new sport as long as you work as hard as you can.

Answer 9

You are never too old to take up something you are passionate about.  It is true that most people starting sports like this do it when they are younger, but if you are passionate about it and serious about it, don't let anything stop you.

Answer 10

Tom Thumb,

I had someone else ask this today. He wanted to know if you can pick up the sport from scratch and being in the Olympics in four years.

No it's not possible to pick up swimming and in four years expect to make the US Olympic Team.

And it's not an easy sport either. That's like saying basketball is an easy sport or the marathon is an easy sport. Can I play basketball? Sure, but not to the point of making the US team. Can I eventually walk 26.2 miles? Sure, but not in 2:07 and make the US squad. Can you pick up swimming and finish the 100 meter freestyle in 4 years? Yes, but not in 47 seconds you can't.

If you're aspiring to be an Olympic swimmer then check out what I did for twelve years:

I practiced 11 practices per week in the water for 2 hours per practice. I got up early 6 mornings a week to attend a 30-45 minute stretching and 3 times a week dryland (weights) for 30-45 minutes. I put my heart and soul into the sport (and still love it today) and aspired to be an Olympian. I set a National record and qualified for the Olympic trials. But that's as close as I got. I say this to illustrate the type of commitment this sport takes to compete at the top level.

Now just because I didn't make it doesn't mean you can't. I'm just saying making the US Olympic team is a real long shot to begin with and to try and make it in 4 years (especially without any background) is simply unrealistic. But 8 years is not out of the question. That would make you 24 years old in 2016.

Now, there's a second way to make an Olympic team in four years though. You should still put in the hard work, time, heart, and soul but it's a more realistic path. The only problem is you'll need to know the right people who can cut some strings for you. You'll need to find a country that participates in the Olympics that currently has no swim team. Attempt to get dual citizenship. After getting citizenship petition the national Olympic committee to nominate you to participate and represent their country in the swimming portion of the games.

Now, of these two choices, the most probable path is the second one. One of my swimmers received dual citizenship because his parents were Turkish Nationalists and he represented Turkey in the Olympics. (However, he was a US National level swimmer that had been competing for 12+ years already).

If you don't think this happens watch the following video of Equatorial Guinea's Eric Moussambani and his Olympic dream:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqi2bT_Tq...

I'd like to wish you much success and good luck with your choice.

Answer 11

I don't think you're too old at all. I think if you're serious about it, you can definitley achieve greatness in the sport.

I'm 25, and I started sport kickboxing about 6 months ago and I've found I have a natural talent and the strength and agility for it. One of my instructors is 20 and he's been doing it since he was 16, and he's almost a black belt.

So just as long as you're dedicated and you really want it, you'll kick butt :)

Answer 12

no dude go for it there is still that great 41 year old lady still swimming and is really good my team goes to 18 so go for what you want!