These are my observations on the techique of Michael Phelps, the 1st " Modern swimmer" for all 4 strokes. He is swimming using the most " cutting edge " of techniques on all 4 strokes.
Free: Looks like 'Popov', same stroke rythym, " Gallop" in stroke, Bent arm recovery, Shoulder shifting forward ( not dropping shoulder) and underwater phases of pull show principles of " Australian Crawl". He also has a very smooth Hand entry, hand almost flat.
Back: Head lies lower in the water, eyes looking up, very still head. Just like 'Krazyleburg'. Shoulder shifted back, horizontal to the water on entry - catch, no dropped shoulder here.
***: Head held in ' neutral ' position, eyes looking at a fixed point ahead, Head does not shift position. His head does not 'bob' up and down, which is 'old style'.
Fly: Head position "same as above" does not 'raise head up and jut chin forward' ( Old style). Hand entry wider than shoulder, immediate catch and into the pull, timing characteristics of "front end fly".
To sum up, Phelps swims all 4 strokes using the best technique shown by World beaters. Free as Popov, Back as Krazyleburg etc. He will dominate his events until someone comes along who is also using " best technique" in each stroke.
Who is coaching Phelps? This is a coach who is ensuring that he is "up to date " with latest technique and is learning from the best so that " His swimmer can be the best". That I Admire !
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Originally posted by Gareth Eckley
...
Who is coaching Phelps? This is a coach who is ensuring that he is "up to date " with latest technique and is learning from the best so that " His swimmer can be the best". That I Admire !
Is Bowman, in a U.S. Swimming club in Maryland.
Bowman produced Olympic breaststroker Anita Nall and other good racers in U.S. Swimming.
A lot of Phelps' progress surprised Bowman too, meaning that a lot of Phelps' progress is due to Phelps executing well.
I remember that in 2000, before the U.S. Trials when Phelps was bragging in his swimming lane to teammates that he was going to qualify for the 200 fly, Bowman surprised told Phelps not to broadcast an achievement out of Phelps' reach like that.
Originally posted by Gareth Eckley
...
Who is coaching Phelps? This is a coach who is ensuring that he is "up to date " with latest technique and is learning from the best so that " His swimmer can be the best". That I Admire !
Is Bowman, in a U.S. Swimming club in Maryland.
Bowman produced Olympic breaststroker Anita Nall and other good racers in U.S. Swimming.
A lot of Phelps' progress surprised Bowman too, meaning that a lot of Phelps' progress is due to Phelps executing well.
I remember that in 2000, before the U.S. Trials when Phelps was bragging in his swimming lane to teammates that he was going to qualify for the 200 fly, Bowman surprised told Phelps not to broadcast an achievement out of Phelps' reach like that.
