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
And from the look of things, she did from lane eight! Gotta love those outside smokers ... unless you're in the race.
Anyway, regarding the women's fly, only four women have swum faster than Mary T. since she broke the record in Aug. 1981 (not 1983, as Mr. Smith said): Susan O'Neill (the first to do it in 1995), Misty Hyman, Otylia Jedrezejak, Jessicah Schipper. And the world record is only five-tenths fatser! With the suits and dolphin kicks, it looks like the improvement is small. Kinda like the women's 200 free.
I'm one to say that I follow fads, too, though I'm usually at the end of the fad's popularity. It took me years to break down and swim the wave breaststroke. I didn't start wearing paper suits until 1990. I've been trying to imitate Kitajima -- only in his pull, and it's been scrutinized for three years now.
The only "fads" I'm still reluctant to participate in are bodysuits (because I like the feel of the water) and underwater dolphin kicking (because I don't have the strength or flexibility).
And from the look of things, she did from lane eight! Gotta love those outside smokers ... unless you're in the race.
Anyway, regarding the women's fly, only four women have swum faster than Mary T. since she broke the record in Aug. 1981 (not 1983, as Mr. Smith said): Susan O'Neill (the first to do it in 1995), Misty Hyman, Otylia Jedrezejak, Jessicah Schipper. And the world record is only five-tenths fatser! With the suits and dolphin kicks, it looks like the improvement is small. Kinda like the women's 200 free.
I'm one to say that I follow fads, too, though I'm usually at the end of the fad's popularity. It took me years to break down and swim the wave breaststroke. I didn't start wearing paper suits until 1990. I've been trying to imitate Kitajima -- only in his pull, and it's been scrutinized for three years now.
The only "fads" I'm still reluctant to participate in are bodysuits (because I like the feel of the water) and underwater dolphin kicking (because I don't have the strength or flexibility).
