Track Start- Who and When?

Wow, that was a cool clip. I like how it shows how seemlessly Thorpe goes from dolphins into flutter. Thanks, Geochuck.

I feel I have to tell people that the track start does not give much of an advantage over the grab start. The track start is praised because it allows for a faster reaction from the block. The grab start allows more power, but because of the position of the body the reaction is about three-tenths of a second slower. You gain that disadvantage back within the first five seconds of the race because you've entered the water with more power, which means more speed carried through greater distance. If you're trying to decide which start you want to use, have someone standing at the 15-meter mark timing you on track starts and grab starts. Do two of each.

I first used a track start in 1986. I stopped using it in 1986. You have to have incredible toe strength to do a track start, otherwise the power you give up will not be worth the added speed off the block.

If you check the video 17 up from the bottom Thorpe take a look at his dolphin kicks www.online1966.com/all.asp I think I counted 7 dolphin kicks.

I am glad Jeff posted on this topic. I completely agree with him. The track start may be better from some, but I don't think it is better for all. The fact that so many use a track start does not make it the better start technique. All swimmers should experiment with both start techniques and determine which is faster. Personally, I like the stability, consistency and trajectory that I gain from a grab start. This article gives some interesting background and data on the two starts (it also gives a pitch for a new Trademarked start).

I'm with Jeff and Mike on this. By all means experiment with both starts, but don't just assume the track start is faster because lots of fast swimmers are using it. It seems to me the track start first starting getting popular about the same time when the rules changed to one false start = DQ. I'm sure many here remember the days when in short course swimming you were allowed one false start and in long course the first two false starts were charged to the field. When the rules changed coaches started teaching their swimmers the track start since it's a little more stable on the blocks.

There were lots of false starts at the 1996 Olympics. The first one was charged to the field, then the second to the swimmer causing it. So internationally, it wasn't changed until after that. Nationally, I think USA Swimming made the no-false start rule shortly before that.

does anyone know what "ovenfra" means? Apparently "from above" as in "a view ovenfra" (a view from above).

www.phoons.com/.../fromabove.html Some photos set "ovenfra".

Everyone is making excellent points regarding the track start. From my perspective, I had been doing the standard grab start from age 9 to age 19. I changed to the track start and used it effectively in college for 2 1/2 years. I never felt the need to go back to the grab start. Once you get rolling on a grab start-look out. That just doesn't happen with a track start. I saw several poor folks DQ at this year's Masters Worlds in Stanford because of this. Imagine training for months, flying to another country, paying for a hotel, and then not even swimming cause ya deeked at the start. WC or Olympics? I wouldn't take the chance. Anthony Thompson states that Rowdy Gaines and Dara torres had a hand in introducing the track start to the world. Does anyone know when they began to use it? Rowdy is 3 years older than me and Dara is 3 years younger. I doubt Dara did it before I did in 1984. Rowdy may be the answer, although I'm a bit sceptical, if my memory serves. The false start rule had to have changed after I got out of college in 1986. I stopped paying much attention to swimming after that. Hence the questions. This board is a great source for historical info with all the diversity that seems to be here.