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
Allen may have a point. The use of goggles in the late 60s and early 70s may have been key to the huge advancements in world records times and training back then. Being able to stay in the water for twice as long or longer probably helped tremendously to change the sport.
I see a lot of people defending todays training techniques as the "right" way to swim. Might I point out that many collegiate athletes enter their Freshman year with insufficient "background" or yardage in their careers now. College coaches are finding they have to give them the background themselves. Are these reduced yardage careers being reduced too much ?
We are still a nation of few great milers. Maybe mega yardage is good only for the D-man as in the case of Brian Goodell and the "animal" lane at Mission Viejo in the 70s.
John Smith
Allen may have a point. The use of goggles in the late 60s and early 70s may have been key to the huge advancements in world records times and training back then. Being able to stay in the water for twice as long or longer probably helped tremendously to change the sport.
I see a lot of people defending todays training techniques as the "right" way to swim. Might I point out that many collegiate athletes enter their Freshman year with insufficient "background" or yardage in their careers now. College coaches are finding they have to give them the background themselves. Are these reduced yardage careers being reduced too much ?
We are still a nation of few great milers. Maybe mega yardage is good only for the D-man as in the case of Brian Goodell and the "animal" lane at Mission Viejo in the 70s.
John Smith
