A Learning Channel special on Lance Armstrong showed how he spent hours perfecting his aerodynamic position on the bike. Computers would analyze the drag caused by Lance's different positions on the bike and the bike itself(i.e.his body caused 2/3 of the total drag). All of this testing to save maybe 1 or 2 percent drag. Of course, in the Tour De France the few seconds time differential could be the difference between a win or loss.
So how could you test your own hydrodynamic position in the water and would it be worthwhile? I imagine one could push off the pool wall and try different positions of head,arms,torso,legs, and feet and find the ONE position that allows you to go the farthest. Persumably, that would be your most hydrodynamic or slippery.
Or, I suppose if you had an Endless Pool, you could tether a swimmer to some kind of force gauge that would measure the energy required to keep the swimmer stationary at a certain flow level. Then try different positions of head, arms, torso, legs, and feet to find which position requires the least amount of force to stay stationary.
Intuitively, one would think that a head down, straight torso, hips, legs, and pointed toes would be most hydrodynamic but not necessarily so.
How does that hydrodynamic position change when a swimmer breathes. Again, is one position more slippery than another and is it different for everyone? How would you test it?
I don't have answers--only questions. Any one aware of studies or empirical data?
Parents
Former Member
As a member of a group of coaches, invited to Colorado Springs, we saw how scientists used the swimming flume at the Olypmic training camp. There certainly should be a great deal of data on the hydrodynamics of a swimmer. You can contact the Olympic Training Camp and ask them who you might talk to on the subject of research finding from the testing they do with the flume. I think they'd be glad to help you. Go to this site at the end of this article for contact information.
Reaching SUCCESS THROUGH SCIENCE
at the International Center for Aquatic Research
United States Swimming is proud to announce the Success Through Science program, which is aimed at athletes of all abilities who are interested in improving their swimming performance.
As an adult athlete, you might feel that improving your swimming has been difficult and frustrating, or that your best days in the sport have passed you by.
But at United States Swimming, we see these years as some or your best. No matter your age, there will always be that untapped potential. And whether it's an adjustment to your stroke, your training program, or how you mentally prepare for competition - we are here to help you succeed.
That is why USS has created a program specifically designed to help swimmers continue to excel even after those youthful years are just a memory.
United States Swimming and the International Center for Aquatic Research aim to help swimmers reach peak performance by unlocking the mystery of the science aspect of the sport.
The ICAR is a unique facility which combines both "one of a kind" laboratories and swimming flume with professional staff devoted to swimming science. ICAR scientists asses swimming performance in order to assist athletes - at all levels of the spectrum - achieve greater success in the pool.
Participating swimmers are taken through a battery of tests to assess their strengths and weaknesses in the psychological, physiological and biomechanical categories.
Following this data collection, an ICAR scientist will interpret these results and make recommendations for each athlete for both training and competition.
For more information, please contact Tricia Downing, Marketing Coordinator at: tdowning@usswim.org or at 719-578-4578.
Let me continue, --
When a swimmer is taking a breath, the arm is in the most powerful phase of the stroke. A common error among beginning swimmers is taking the breath too early in the stroke or too late. The following articles on other aspects of streamling are interesting. Good luck to you and Merry Christmas, Coach T.
Here are a couple articles on the subject that are interesting.
www.usms.org/.../articledisplay.phpwww.evanscoaching.com/.../Swimming Momentum and Arc Continuum - Evans.pdfwww.fluent.com/.../a1.htm
As a member of a group of coaches, invited to Colorado Springs, we saw how scientists used the swimming flume at the Olypmic training camp. There certainly should be a great deal of data on the hydrodynamics of a swimmer. You can contact the Olympic Training Camp and ask them who you might talk to on the subject of research finding from the testing they do with the flume. I think they'd be glad to help you. Go to this site at the end of this article for contact information.
Reaching SUCCESS THROUGH SCIENCE
at the International Center for Aquatic Research
United States Swimming is proud to announce the Success Through Science program, which is aimed at athletes of all abilities who are interested in improving their swimming performance.
As an adult athlete, you might feel that improving your swimming has been difficult and frustrating, or that your best days in the sport have passed you by.
But at United States Swimming, we see these years as some or your best. No matter your age, there will always be that untapped potential. And whether it's an adjustment to your stroke, your training program, or how you mentally prepare for competition - we are here to help you succeed.
That is why USS has created a program specifically designed to help swimmers continue to excel even after those youthful years are just a memory.
United States Swimming and the International Center for Aquatic Research aim to help swimmers reach peak performance by unlocking the mystery of the science aspect of the sport.
The ICAR is a unique facility which combines both "one of a kind" laboratories and swimming flume with professional staff devoted to swimming science. ICAR scientists asses swimming performance in order to assist athletes - at all levels of the spectrum - achieve greater success in the pool.
Participating swimmers are taken through a battery of tests to assess their strengths and weaknesses in the psychological, physiological and biomechanical categories.
Following this data collection, an ICAR scientist will interpret these results and make recommendations for each athlete for both training and competition.
For more information, please contact Tricia Downing, Marketing Coordinator at: tdowning@usswim.org or at 719-578-4578.
Let me continue, --
When a swimmer is taking a breath, the arm is in the most powerful phase of the stroke. A common error among beginning swimmers is taking the breath too early in the stroke or too late. The following articles on other aspects of streamling are interesting. Good luck to you and Merry Christmas, Coach T.
Here are a couple articles on the subject that are interesting.
www.usms.org/.../articledisplay.phpwww.evanscoaching.com/.../Swimming Momentum and Arc Continuum - Evans.pdfwww.fluent.com/.../a1.htm
