As quoted in the AP article:
"You'll all have to see. I'm not saying anything until we unveil it," Phelps said with a grin when asked how he's tweaked the stroke. "It's a significant change. You'll be able to tell exactly what I did as soon as I take my first stroke."
He's on tap to swim the 100- and 200-meter free and the 100 butterfly at the Charlotte UltraSwim in NC. Should be interesting to see.
Former Member
Avoiding pain with alternative styles ~ would be a good thread. When my swimmers complain about shoulder problems, I tell them to change the way they remove or exit their hand from the water (look at their palm) and it usually helps. I got that one from George Block. Thanks for the information, Coach T.
P.S. If you could be a little more specific (exactly how you do it), that would be awesome. Thanks again.
I managed to see a short video of his last few yards of his swim. I did notice the fingers of the hands were not open, it did not seem to be his new windmill style. His hands seemed to enter very close to the center line.
That must have been fun to watch.
From what he describes, it seems to be working.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) —
Using his new windmill stroke for an entire lap, Michael Phelps tied for the fastest time in the preliminaries of the 100-meter freestyle Sunday morning at the Charlotte UltraSwim. Phelps, swimming in the next-to-last heat, advanced to the evening final with a time of 49.50 seconds, which was matched by fellow Olympian Ricky Berens.
"If I can perfect it, it's definitely a faster tempo for me," Phelps said. "That's something I need in the 100. My stroke is more a 200 or 400 stroke."
Did any folks from NC get to see him swim?
www.google.com/.../ALeqM5hzNJx82I7YgB1Dy2zz5NXlhIedPQD98849N00
I just got home from watching the 100Free finals at ultraswim.
Phelps switched back and forth between his regular stroke and the windmill stroke several times during the race. I think he switched back and forth two times. He looked very uncomfortable. Or, maybe he planned to swim like that, I don't know.
Either way, I'm guessing this stroke is not going to last in its current form. Generally, swimming with a locked elbow on recovery doesn't work for taller swimmers. Shorter swimmers, I can see it. I'm not saying that Phelps won't continue with his stroke evolution, but it probably will not stay a straight arm locked elbow freestyle.
What I do know is Fred Busquet is really freakin fast and does not swim with a straight arm. don't get me wrong he doesn't do a high elbow recovery either. Its just a natural motion with no real glide after entry. Well maybe a little glide but its gliding down towards the bottom not towards the other side of the pool. His hand is high on the recovery with a bent elbow. His hand stabs down into the water.
Fred is moving so fast that unless you are moving at this velocity you will not be able to mimic his stroke with the same effect.
High-tech swimsuits give a power boost to freestyle
USA TODAY
"(suits are) the subject of a meeting today at the Lausanne, Switzerland, headquarters of swimming's international governing body."
"Swimming's international governing body, FINA, hired an independent lab to test all of the suits worn for records set over the last 15 months and will rule today on which suits will be legal for the rest of the year."
tdrop regularly puts the drop kick on me in practice so I defer to everything swimming related he says. He has impressive coaching and swimming credentials as well.
