When I googled 'freestyle "breathing pattern"' today, I came across this story:
www.paloaltoonline.com/.../2000_Jun_28.SWIMMING.html
The story is inspiring. It talks about how Dara Torres, at the age of 33, set an American record in the women's 50 meter freestyle in the summer of 2000.
Beside her "old age", an interesting aspect of the story was that she changed her usual breathing pattern for the race. Instead of taking just two or three breaths the entire race, she breathed every three strokes to prevent oxygen debt at the end, because she has asthma.
This is the first time that I have ever heard of someone breaking a record or getting a really fast time by breathing frequently in a 50 meter freestyle race.
A couple of nights ago, I watched Canada's Brett Hayden win a silver medal in the 50 free at the commonwealth games. I'm not sure how many breaths he took, but he did say in the interview afterwards that he did not take any breaths in the last 20 meters. So I think he probably took 2 or 3 breaths.
This got me to wondering, "what is the ideal number of breaths to take in a 50 meter freestyle race?" I have heard that most people take 2 or 3 breaths. I usually take 3. What about you guys? Also, what is your breathing pattern for the 100 meter free?
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Try to take as few breaths as possible. Dara was a very strong swimmer and talented. Her motives for breathing more may be different than for you or me. The 50 is too short to spend moving your head around that much. If you can't do it without a breath then take 1 breath down and 2 on the way back. Usually, you don't need more than 3 breaths over 50 yards. Most do it in 1 or 2 breaths as we get older.
Now... the 100 is another philosophy... especially meters. I suggest breathing quite a bit more on this race.
Try to take as few breaths as possible. Dara was a very strong swimmer and talented. Her motives for breathing more may be different than for you or me. The 50 is too short to spend moving your head around that much. If you can't do it without a breath then take 1 breath down and 2 on the way back. Usually, you don't need more than 3 breaths over 50 yards. Most do it in 1 or 2 breaths as we get older.
Now... the 100 is another philosophy... especially meters. I suggest breathing quite a bit more on this race.
