Why certain strokes?

This is an interesting topic. I think genetics influence body shape and muscle fiber distribution, which impact swimmers. But I don't think genetic is a good predictor of backstroke vs. breaststroke (for example). I read the USA Swimming study some time ago and it was interesting reading. I haven't read it again but one thing I remember was that IMers didn't stand out. That makes sense to me - elite IMers of course are at least good in all four strokes but often are truly good in only one other stroke. Phelps is probably an exception. Some IMers (maybe Masters!) aren't really great at any one stroke. But I think we see trends in elite swimmers: - freestylers are often good at backstroke - flyers are often good at freestyle and/or backstroke - breaststrokers are often specialists, but frequently are very good IMers - distance freestylers are often freestyle specialists but are sometimes good 200 flyers or 400 IMers - most elite swimmers are tall, with lean bodies, long arms, and larger feet On short vs. long - I think we see lots of long axis swimmers, but I'm not convinced that fly and *** skill are often found together. I think breaststroke is the most difficult to reach high levels. It is so technical - and different from every other stroke including fly. I can't name an elite flyer that is also an elite breaststroker or vice versa. I see lots of breaststrokers that are GOOD flyers, just not elite at the age group level. There are always exceptions. I think a child at an early age may choose an event simply because they like something about it and simply through hard work get good at it. I think also that Masters swimmers break many of these predictors - because durability and training time may trump everything as we get older.

This is an interesting topic. I think genetics influence body shape and muscle fiber distribution, which impact swimmers. But I don't think genetic is a good predictor of backstroke vs. breaststroke (for example). I read the USA Swimming study some time ago and it was interesting reading. I haven't read it again but one thing I remember was that IMers didn't stand out. That makes sense to me - elite IMers of course are at least good in all four strokes but often are truly good in only one other stroke. Phelps is probably an exception. Some IMers (maybe Masters!) aren't really great at any one stroke. But I think we see trends in elite swimmers: - freestylers are often good at backstroke - flyers are often good at freestyle and/or backstroke - breaststrokers are often specialists, but frequently are very good IMers - distance freestylers are often freestyle specialists but are sometimes good 200 flyers or 400 IMers - most elite swimmers are tall, with lean bodies, long arms, and larger feet On short vs. long - I think we see lots of long axis swimmers, but I'm not convinced that fly and *** skill are often found together. I think breaststroke is the most difficult to reach high levels. It is so technical - and different from every other stroke including fly. I can't name an elite flyer that is also an elite breaststroker or vice versa. I see lots of breaststrokers that are GOOD flyers, just not elite at the age group level. There are always exceptions. I think a child at an early age may choose an event simply because they like something about it and simply through hard work get good at it. I think also that Masters swimmers break many of these predictors - because durability and training time may trump everything as we get older.