Gennadi Turetski, whose two most successful swimmers are Popov and Klim, made recently a presentation for Russian swimming coaches with a video demonstration. Below are a few points from the freestyle part of this presentation that I found insightful but practical in the same time.
Swimming movements originates from the mass center – the lower back.
Having entered the water from a dive you must transfer the motion into a horizontal vector as soon as possible. Popov’s first movement underwater is his legs’ moving up to throw away the water that is trailing his body
A javelin thrown from the deck enters the water through a hole and glides in a horizontal direction without any unnecessary force it is rigid. In the pool Gennadi showed a start drill that I found very good for the development body as a rigid part and learning to forward your energy to the other end of the pool. You put one foot on the edge of the pool and the other leg kneels on the deck and push off. You should be able to do a long horizontal glide.
During your swim you focus on forward movement, not on forward force.
During pull you position your thumb outward for a more efficient catch.
One hand’s catch and the other’s exit occur simultaneously
In freestyle you don’t pull. Instead you move yourself forward over the pulling hand.
While finishing you don’t shorten you stroke to increase the rate. Instead you lengthen the stroke and turn on an intense kick
In a 50m sprint the most important indicator is the swimmer’s speed at the 15m mark
Rhythm is very important during a turn because the right rhythm helps you to push off the wall with the rebound wave thus gaining a 0.5m advantage. You count like: One (first hand entry), Two (second hand entry) and Three (rebound. Not push off, but rebound). Popov seems to do that amazingly well at both low and high speed.
Gennadi believes that fast kick has low amplitude and high rate.
And I like this statement of his:
“In the race you don’t go to the wall, you go through the wall” Probably like in life.
Dmitri
Former Member
The one statement he made that I don't agree with was "One hand’s catch and the other’s exit occur simultaneously." I agree...That depends on the individual. Its not how I swim and I watched Popov on one of the links. It looks like he doesn't do it either so...I feel better!:)
Which of the videos were you watching? I looked at a couple and the timing seemed to be as described. The definition of "catch" is open to interpretation as it is not an instantaneous event. I would say that with Popov the start of the catch, or the start of the hand movement toward the catch starts as the opposite hand exits. I would agree that timing varies with sprint versus distance, and of course individually. How does your timing differ? I am trying to ingrain the start the catch as you exit/close to continuous propulsion timing so I am curious on this issue.
I agree with you but only because I, personally, believe in Front Quadrant Swimming. Turetski's description is Middle Quadrant swimming
Not necessarily wrong.
Alex Popov swims this way, but Ian Thorpe (for one) is a Front Quadrant Swimmer.
I think I am more of a front quadrant swimmer too. I guess this all depends on what you call "the catch". I ride my "front" arm longer than what Turetski describes.
Another point that Gennadi made several times in his presentation was importance of muscle elasticity.
Elastic muscles allow a swimmer to apply less force in forward movement. He said that a body suit enhances the elasticity of muscles. The elasticity decline results in technique deterioration (dropped elbow).
Another point that Gennadi made several times in his presentation was importance of muscle elasticity.
Elastic muscles allow a swimmer to apply less force in forward movement. He said that a body suit enhances the elasticity of muscles. The elasticity decline results in technique deterioration (dropped elbow).
My coach in 1940 told us about long smooth elastic muscles. We all had a relaxed forward motion. My greatest harp now, is in the way swimmers use their arms to get the arms forward and the dropped elbow during the catch phase. I have sat through lectures by Coach Silvia and Councilman and they both had different ideas about the swim stroke. I stuck with my coach and did well even though I did not train as all the other swimmers of my time did.
Popov and Klim were sprinters, but they're history now. Look at Cullen Jones' clean hand entry:
Popov may be a history now, but what the HISTORY he and his coach left and the knowedge created!
Popov has won 100m free in Barcelona pool twice: The 1992 Olympics and 2003 World Championships. And now think about that. During this 11 year span he qualified as #1-2 every year in the most contested event. How much professionalism, innovation, motivation this coach - swimmer team should have demonstrated.
Cullen Jones or another sprinter can break the world record in a 50 free -21.5 - 21.4 sec, but these two accomplishments are of a diferent magnitude.
Popov and Klim were sprinters, but they're history now. Look at Cullen Jones' clean hand entry:
www.youtube.com/watch
Perhaps that's where the legacy of the Russian maverick coach can be traced today. Mail slot precision, minimal waste of energy, focus on forward motion.
I don't think Turetski wants everything he says to be written in stone. I wish I knew more about Jones' coach:
www.google.se/search
Get my morning cuppa :coffee: now, cu!
