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
This may be a little off the subject....but since (for the moment at least) we are talking about distance swimming, I want to congratulate you Kirk on an impressive showing last Saturday at the Chicago Big Shoulders 5K open water swim.....4th place out of 3 or 4 (or possibly 5?) hundred swimmers from all around the country aint too shabby.....so although your slipping "massively" from an intellectual standpoint with your plethora of spelling error(s), you're apparently getting the job done physically .....which is, of course, the main thing of importance anyway!
Newmastersswimmer
This may be a little off the subject....but since (for the moment at least) we are talking about distance swimming, I want to congratulate you Kirk on an impressive showing last Saturday at the Chicago Big Shoulders 5K open water swim.....4th place out of 3 or 4 (or possibly 5?) hundred swimmers from all around the country aint too shabby.....so although your slipping "massively" from an intellectual standpoint with your plethora of spelling error(s), you're apparently getting the job done physically .....which is, of course, the main thing of importance anyway!
Newmastersswimmer
