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
Cinc310 brings out a good point. While there are some exceptional swimmers at the top that have shown marginal improvement on the world records compared to 20 years ago, the vast majority of participants on teams nationwide aren't that much better than the kids training in the late 1970s.
It would be interesting to see a comparison of 1st place finishes at nationals over the last 25 years with 8th place.
John Smith
Cinc310 brings out a good point. While there are some exceptional swimmers at the top that have shown marginal improvement on the world records compared to 20 years ago, the vast majority of participants on teams nationwide aren't that much better than the kids training in the late 1970s.
It would be interesting to see a comparison of 1st place finishes at nationals over the last 25 years with 8th place.
John Smith
