Are there elite swimmers that have a high head position?
Former Member
Or even some videos? I thought this used to be taught more vs. the head being straight down. Or is a high head position mutually exclusive from elite swimming?
I can't seem to get any comfort putting my head down so wondered if I could give up and emulate others with more this style.
Inge De Bruijn (in the second closest lane) is looking straight forward.
Looking straight down ay bottom of pool will be documented as being faster everywhere you read. With me I'm just as slow looking down as forward but looking forward towards the wall mistakenly feels faster.
I am curious too, about head position of fast people .
nevertheless, here's the vid of Inge
YouTube - Athens 2004 - underwater view women's 50 free semifinal 2
Stefan Nystrand - his head isn't as high as Thorpe's nevertheless he still looks forward, not down.
YouTube - Stefan Nystrand (2002) - 50m freestyle slow pace
YouTube - Stefan Nystrand (2002) - 50m freestyle all out
IMO head position depends on kick - those who can feel kick only when feet are completely under water would find it's better to keep head higher.
Take a look at the underwater video of Brent Hayden from the Commonwealth Games, when he went 47.98. You'll see that he has a high head as well, but Eamon Sullivan in the lane next to him keeps his head down.
YouTube - ‪CWG Delhi 2010 - 100m Freestyle Final- Brent Hayden wins gold in games record time‬
It all depends on personal comfort. Obviously, a high head position works for some, but not others.
Inge De Bruijn (in the second closest lane) is looking straight forward.
Looking straight down ay bottom of pool will be documented as being faster everywhere you read. With me I'm just as slow looking down as forward but looking forward towards the wall mistakenly feels faster.
I am curious too, about head position of fast people .
nevertheless, here's the vid of Inge
YouTube - Athens 2004 - underwater view women's 50 free semifinal 2
She is looking forward and kicking ass against the girl looking straight down.
YouTube - Janet Evans
She had a very unique style.
High head position though, will result in lower hips ...which creates drag. Not really recommended.
Wow. I need to see more of that. I didn't realize her form was like that.
Since I have a weak kick would that sink my hips further, or is that a chicken and the egg where my weak kick (and maybe body fat) leads to a higher head position?
I've looked at several of the videos and one thing I noticed with the head forward swimmers (especially Inge and Brett) is that, although they are looking forward, their heads are not elevated but at or below the water line and in balance with the rest of their body. It's sort of like Phelps looking forward on fly. A no no for most, but he is able to keep low and flat while looking straight forward.
Sun Yang's 1500 from the 2010 Asian Games is interesting to watch for this reason. Early in the race his head pops up occasionally, but then he gets it back down. By the second half of the race, he keeps it down much more consistently. Also, it's just a great swim, well worth watching.
Part 1 YouTube - ‪2010 Asian Games - Swimming / Men's 1500m Free Style Final 1/2‬
Part 2 YouTube - ‪2010 Asian Games - Swimming / Men's 1500m Free Style Final 2/2‬
