Recently, we completed a shave and taper meet where the group was simply on fire. Many swimmers had huge time drops over a wide range of events, and the buzz in the stands among parents seemed to be positive. More than one parent complimented me after the meet on the "beautiful job with the taper" I did this season. I truly appreciate the compliment. We all like knowing that others approve of our work, but these parents missed out on an important concept, and I missed the opportunity to explain it.
Attributing one's success at a championship meet to a great taper is like crediting the delicious steak you ordered at a restaurant to the classy way the waiter carried it to your table. Certainly, it has an impact on the steak's presentation (you wouldn't like it if the waiter dropped it onto the floor), but to really find out what makes it a great steak, you need to look further back in time to its preparation in the kitchen.
A swimmer's success or failure is primarily due to his preparation or lack thereof. The taper is the final act that presents the season's results, but the main credit needs to go to the work the swimmer did all season long.
For more on this topic, see "The Six Myths of Fast Swimming" Myth #6.
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