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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Former Member
The article has a major flaw,few third world countries were representive in swimming at the worlds. Most swimming countries are US, Australia, the European countries-western and eastern , Japan and China with a few from Latin countries. In the case of China, the country that is closest to being third world among the top swimming powers, the women swimmers outnumbered the men swimmers. Title 9 can't be blame for the sport not being as popular among boys. Also, the sport tends to be popular among non-hispanic whites and asians more than hispanics or blacks.l It tends to be more popular among people in the upper-middle class which tend to be more white or asian. I'm not saying that there not upper-middle class blacks or hispanics but they on average have less income. In the large states, blacks and hispanics make up a big chunk of the population, so Mr Phelps can't help in that department. But among white males and some other males he might influence them to try swimming..
The article has a major flaw,few third world countries were representive in swimming at the worlds. Most swimming countries are US, Australia, the European countries-western and eastern , Japan and China with a few from Latin countries. In the case of China, the country that is closest to being third world among the top swimming powers, the women swimmers outnumbered the men swimmers. Title 9 can't be blame for the sport not being as popular among boys. Also, the sport tends to be popular among non-hispanic whites and asians more than hispanics or blacks.l It tends to be more popular among people in the upper-middle class which tend to be more white or asian. I'm not saying that there not upper-middle class blacks or hispanics but they on average have less income. In the large states, blacks and hispanics make up a big chunk of the population, so Mr Phelps can't help in that department. But among white males and some other males he might influence them to try swimming..
