Stager
 Stager has completed predictions for winning swimming times at the U.S. Olympic trials in July and for the Olympics in August. |
Kinesiologist Joel Stager and his research team from the IU Bloomington Human Performance Lab assessed swimmers at the U. S. Masters Swimming (USMC) Short Course National Championship in Indianapolis in April to see how their biological age compares with their chronological age. Susie Swimmer, for example, might be 45 but have the physical capacity of a 35-year-old.
Stager's team conducted a battery of tests on volunteers to gauge such age markers as muscle mass and strength, pulmonary function and blood chemistry. The functional capacity of these markers typically declines by 0.5 percent to 1 percent per year with aging. The data collected from the swimmers will be compared to similar data collected on the general population.
If funding becomes available, Stager and his team would like to assess swimmers annually at the USMS national championship. USMS accepts swimmers age 19 and up, which would be convenient for research purposes. Swim meet participants typically are divided evenly between men and women. All of the participants swim as part of their fitness program.
"We're looking at what we think are the best of the best," said Stager, who directs the Counsilman Center for the Science of Swimming in IUB's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.
Stager and research associate Dave Tanner also have completed their predictions for winning times at the U.S. Olympic trials in July and for the Olympics in August. Their statistical work uses a power curve to illustrate how swimming times have improved during the past 36 years.
"Blips," or times that do not fall along the curve, generally point to something "fishy," Stager said. Such a blip occurred below the curve for women's times in 1976. Later, it was learned the East German swimmers had used steroids. Another blip occurred in 1992. It later was learned that the female Chinese swimmers had used steroids, Stager said.
A blip did not occur when new, full-length body suits premiered in swim contests four years ago. The manufacturers of the suits claimed they improved swim times. Stager said his statistics showed they had no impact. This year, sportswear manufacturers again are selling expensive, full-length swimsuits that are supposed to improve swim times. Stager said their statistics will be able to evaluate this as well.
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