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 seltzer
...
At 16 he was very skinny but still set 15-16 NAG record for the 200 free (I believe 1:38 or 1:39) and also set NAG records for the 200 LCM. Some of us in NE thought he might be the one to revive middle distance free in the US. Instead he focused on the 100 fly.
...
Crocker swam 1:49.48 for the 200 meter free Long Course, at the U.S. National Championships in 1998 when he was age 15.
Without having a 50 meter pool where he trains, in Maine.
Crocker tried to qualify for the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team in free and fly, and made the 100 fly.
One day after qualifying for the 100 fly, asked by a reporter since when he became a 100 meter fly specialist, Crocker answered:
"Since yesterday."
Right now, there are three world class flyers in the U.S.:
Crocker, Phelps and Michelson.
Ben Michelson, swimming in N.C.A.A. division II, goes mid 52 in 100 fly Long Course.
At the 2003 World Championships, the 4x100 U.S. medley relay that left out Phelps in fly because Crocker was faster, shows unbelievable competition in U.S. in fly, right now.
Phelps, the way he persisted to get in the 2003 World Championships a new world record in the 200 fly, that's the way he will push for a new world record in the 100 fly, soon.
Originally posted by seltzer
...
At 16 he was very skinny but still set 15-16 NAG record for the 200 free (I believe 1:38 or 1:39) and also set NAG records for the 200 LCM. Some of us in NE thought he might be the one to revive middle distance free in the US. Instead he focused on the 100 fly.
...
Crocker swam 1:49.48 for the 200 meter free Long Course, at the U.S. National Championships in 1998 when he was age 15.
Without having a 50 meter pool where he trains, in Maine.
Crocker tried to qualify for the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team in free and fly, and made the 100 fly.
One day after qualifying for the 100 fly, asked by a reporter since when he became a 100 meter fly specialist, Crocker answered:
"Since yesterday."
Right now, there are three world class flyers in the U.S.:
Crocker, Phelps and Michelson.
Ben Michelson, swimming in N.C.A.A. division II, goes mid 52 in 100 fly Long Course.
At the 2003 World Championships, the 4x100 U.S. medley relay that left out Phelps in fly because Crocker was faster, shows unbelievable competition in U.S. in fly, right now.
Phelps, the way he persisted to get in the 2003 World Championships a new world record in the 200 fly, that's the way he will push for a new world record in the 100 fly, soon.
