Recently I watched Denis Pankratov’s finals’ swims (two golds – 100 & 200m fly) at the Atlanta Olympics. His 25m long underwater kick helped him win these events. His underwater speed was obvious as he gained a significant advantage at the breakout point over the 2nd and 3rd place finishers whose times were 52.5 sec - still good ten years later (not wearing full body suit!).
What is interesting – his underwater kick was not streamlined. His hands were 10+ inches apart and they were making a wave-like motion. This technique breaks two main rules of the efficient underwater dolphin kick demonstrated by Ian Crocker in the March issue of The Swimming World magazine:
1. Keep the hands in a streamlined position, and
2. Keep the head hidden within the streamline.
Can anyone comment on why Pankratov’s (arguably wrong?) underwater kick was still fast:dunno:
Dmitri
Parents
Former Member
I really think one has to find what works for them. I have a very long push off the wall and I can keep up with most everyone on my team or beat them off the wall. I have been told that I should do that, but it works well for me.
I don't put one had over the other, though I do put one thumb over the other and have a couple of fingers overlap. I also tuck my head so my chin is on my chest. I have found that this works for me a lot better the hand over hand and the head in the "normal" possition. I even had my coach ask me about it a couple of weeks ago. I have found that I can come off the wall at least two body lengths without kicking doing this, I usually come up the same place but faster when I do kick.
I'm guessing Pankratov found something that works for him and he went with it.
I really think one has to find what works for them. I have a very long push off the wall and I can keep up with most everyone on my team or beat them off the wall. I have been told that I should do that, but it works well for me.
I don't put one had over the other, though I do put one thumb over the other and have a couple of fingers overlap. I also tuck my head so my chin is on my chest. I have found that this works for me a lot better the hand over hand and the head in the "normal" possition. I even had my coach ask me about it a couple of weeks ago. I have found that I can come off the wall at least two body lengths without kicking doing this, I usually come up the same place but faster when I do kick.
I'm guessing Pankratov found something that works for him and he went with it.
