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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAn educated guess<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUltimately you want to look at more than the current performance. If you only look at that, you will miss out on people who still have the potential to reach the top.\u201d Of course it is always a gamble, Aylin admits. \u201c Apart from personal factors, the environment plays a major role in development. For example a coach or parents. You cannot always influence that. But on the basis of my research you can make an educated guess.\u201d]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is an important study for us\u201d, says Mark Faber. \u201cWe want to find out more about talents and how we can best identify talents. We now do this mainly by looking at performane over time. We have learned in the past decades that performance over time is not by definition a good indicator to disover and identify real swim talents. In many cases performance over time is good indicater, but there are more components that are relevant for identifying and developing talent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Comparing data<\/p>\n\n\n\n Twenty years ago, the national talent program already included measurements, Mark continues. \u201cWe conducted these in a measuring line. Analysis of strength, starts, turning points and stroke technique was essential. However, we never compared these data with other measurable facts. This is done now the first time in Aylin\u2019s research.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Patience<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, such research takes time and you can only say something definite in the long run. Mark: \u201cYou are hoping that striking trends will be discovered, leading to new knowledge on the basis of which we can adjust our approach or policy. Nevertheless, we will have to be patient and take the time to measure and interpret all relevant matters. We are very hopeful that this research will provide us with insights that we can actually use.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The study consists of five sub-studies. The initial investigation was completed last year. In it, Aylin investigated the performance development of top swimmers, i.e., swimmers who, over the past twenty years, belonged to the best eight swimmers in the world. She looked at their development from the age of 12 onwards. What were their seasonal best times? How fast did they swim when they were 14, 15 and 16 years of age, and so on? She compared those data with data from swimmers who did not make it to the top.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"\"](\"https:\/\/islt.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Zwemtalent-2.png\")
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