I have a new swimmer with only one leg. I need some suggestions on how to coordinate his one legged kick with his arm pull and to keep hi sone leg from sinking his stroke. Also, if you have any other suggestion to help improve his stroke, or where I can find some good information about amputee swimming. Thanks!!
Former Member
Hello -
I'm neither an amputee swimmer, nor a coach, but check out this link. Travis recently broke his own world record (paralympic) and is training under *** Shoulberg at Germantown Academy in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. *** is ENORMOUSLY generous with his insights and would be delighted, I'm sure, to talk with you about Travis and his training regimen. I swim every morning and watch Travis train (heh heh - not at the same time) - he is EXTRAORDINARY. *** is training several Olympians at the moment and it's a crazy time for him, but he'll get you started.
Hope this helps.
Kathy Johnston
www.drexel.edu/.../TravisMohr.html
Former Member
I started swimming age group at age nine, swam high school and college, mostly longer free events and fly. After 38 years out of the water I'm back swimming Masters.
I have two legs but one of them is of almost no use when swimming, polio at age 2. I cross my legs at the ankle and use them as one. I make a down kick about the time each hand enters the water. So I sort of porpoise a bit. I don't kick very hard except in the shorter events. Kicking for me is mostly for balance and to keep close to flat in the water.
To stay flat I need to keep my kick in front of my body. Sort of a very slight pike, and keep my head down too. I hope this helps.
Later,
Dee
Former Member
Many clubs have SWAD programs (Swimmers With A Disability) Check around your area and meet the coaches. We have a couple, one with a complete hip included amputation who is a superb swimmer, another above knee who swims very well .
Like any other athlete, conditioning (core strength, balance, etc)and flexibility help with their swimming. Working on balance and equal power with the arms, rotation, in the strokes will help with the legs. They train the same sets as the other swimmers.
