Noticing more frequent use of grab starts in Beijing...
Former Member
Notably by the Chinese female swimmer, and it's combined with tremendous water entries and SDK's ... I'd say almost Coughlin caliber underwaters and theyr'e coming up on the fielkd, but no one is talking about it.
Look at their entries in the 200 free. In the 100, Pang jumped so take her slight reaction time out of it and she still is well up after the SDK's.
Notice also that Lenton of Australia used the conventional grab start, as do several other of her country women.
In one particular Chinese sprinter (Le?), she squats with her but down quite low for her stance, which would seem very slow off the block. At 15 meters though she is ahead.
Any thoughts?
Parents
Former Member
I think the grad has always really been faster but no one wanted to mention that because they thought the track start was cooler. the thing that drives me crazy is when the swimmer first goes backward then pushes forward. I think almost universally most track starters do this. I think with a track start, my center of gravity is off and where I lose a lot of energy as my back leg has to catch up with my body.
I'd like to hear from coaches about this.
I think the grad has always really been faster but no one wanted to mention that because they thought the track start was cooler. the thing that drives me crazy is when the swimmer first goes backward then pushes forward. I think almost universally most track starters do this. I think with a track start, my center of gravity is off and where I lose a lot of energy as my back leg has to catch up with my body.
I'd like to hear from coaches about this.
