I submit that swimming is one of the worst sports in terms of following fad techniques simply because someone has been successful using that technique.
I submit that talent or genetics, aerobic capacity, workout intensity as well as mental toughness play a far greater roll than mere stroke technique in the end.
Seems like the US latches on to the winner's stroke techniques all too often as the way explain success and teach kids. Front quadrant swimming like Ian Thorpe..... head down sprinting like Popoff..... these guys would be successful in their events with or without these techniques in my opinion.
Except for the latest cheating techniques...... i.e. flip turns on backstroke, underwater dolphin kick on backstroke, head under on breastroke, full body suits, and the soon to be dolphin kick on breastroke pull outs, the sport has not improved a whole lot in the last 25 years.... especially when you compare it to 25 years previous to 1980..... (1955)
Thought for the day...... :-)
John Smith
Parents
Former Member
The post was a combination of Matt S. 's reply and my answers to him. I didn't say there was only 1 person under 50 seconds in the 100m free, Mr Matt S. said that. But it makes no difference in the end. I still say that times are not that much faster now then 25 years ago given suit technology and the cheating rule changes to the strokes... :-)
As for my embarassing Freshman year swim with Rowdy when he went a time trial for that record in Austin in 1984..... I think I went a 52.1 He missed it the first time and swam it again about 20 minutes later. I remember crawling off the deck hoping no one saw me..... walked up to my favorite Texmex restaurant on Lavaca and drank several pictures of beer..... :-)
John Smith
The post was a combination of Matt S. 's reply and my answers to him. I didn't say there was only 1 person under 50 seconds in the 100m free, Mr Matt S. said that. But it makes no difference in the end. I still say that times are not that much faster now then 25 years ago given suit technology and the cheating rule changes to the strokes... :-)
As for my embarassing Freshman year swim with Rowdy when he went a time trial for that record in Austin in 1984..... I think I went a 52.1 He missed it the first time and swam it again about 20 minutes later. I remember crawling off the deck hoping no one saw me..... walked up to my favorite Texmex restaurant on Lavaca and drank several pictures of beer..... :-)
John Smith
