At the risk of touching off another flame war...
Please let the record reflect that Adrienne Binder, a self described Total Immersion swimmer, posted the following results at NCAA Div. I Championships:
1650 Free - 15:57.64 3rd
georgiadogs.collegesports.com/.../060316F015.htm
400 IM - 4:11.83 4th
georgiadogs.collegesports.com/.../060316F008.htm
500 Free - 4:41.99 4th
georgiadogs.collegesports.com/.../060316F002.htm
Acknowledging the caveat that she is a Junior at Auburn Univ. and therefore has been swimming in their program for three years and therefore is not a "pure" TI swimmer (to the extent the results of any swimmer can be purely attributed to one coach, program or school of technique and training).
This pretty clearly demonstrates that it is possible to "succeed" at the highest levels of competition while using TI principles. This is not to say that everyone will "succeed" using TI, or that everyone can "succeed" using TI, or indeed that TI necessarily has value for everyone.
However, we ain't the ones hollering "Show me a world class TI swimmer!" Well, there you have it.
Matt
Parents
Former Member
I am awed by the wonderful marketing that TI does but to use TI as a model that improves speed at world-class levels seems flawed. I keep reminding people that 16 of the 20 Gold Medals and 43 of the 60 Medals won in Athens were with a “high-elbow” or Early Vertical Forearm Stroke. If seeing is believing, simply watch the underwater videos of world-class freestylers, backstrokers, breaststrokers and flyers; EVF isn’t a style but a propulsive position that even TI swimmers must get into. TI is great and it’s wonderful because it’s making swimming easier to learn but it’s a teaching tool and it should be kept at that.
I am awed by the fact that one phase of the stroke (EVF) can be marketed. Why stop there? Here a few other suggestions:
www.relaxed-recovery.com
www.hip-rotation.com
I am awed by the wonderful marketing that TI does but to use TI as a model that improves speed at world-class levels seems flawed. I keep reminding people that 16 of the 20 Gold Medals and 43 of the 60 Medals won in Athens were with a “high-elbow” or Early Vertical Forearm Stroke. If seeing is believing, simply watch the underwater videos of world-class freestylers, backstrokers, breaststrokers and flyers; EVF isn’t a style but a propulsive position that even TI swimmers must get into. TI is great and it’s wonderful because it’s making swimming easier to learn but it’s a teaching tool and it should be kept at that.
I am awed by the fact that one phase of the stroke (EVF) can be marketed. Why stop there? Here a few other suggestions:
www.relaxed-recovery.com
www.hip-rotation.com
