I just saw this article "Swimmer’s death leaves open questions":
"Asked if he’d ever try the event, US swimmer Michael Phelps said, “Not a chance, no way. I won’t do open water.’’
I'm a bit surprised. Is he scared of the dangers of open water? Or is he technically competitive in open water? :rolleyes: Have there been any swimmers who won both pool medal and open-water medal in world events?
Former Member
I can see some practical difficulties with actual races:
Back: How do you know where you're going?
Fly: clashing arms
***: clashing legs (can you imagine a frog kick to the face with swedish goggles on?)
Where's the problem? You can put them all into one race at the same time. It would be a great spectator sport
Former Member
Oh, like aqua-gladiators. Awesome. Maybe Richard Branson will sponsor it.
If there is a World Record in it, I'm sure he'd be interested
Former Member
Back: How do you know where you're going?
I'm still waiting for reply to my post in this thread--some crossed the English Channel in backstroke.
Former Member
Escort boat + peripheral vision, I would assume. Tina Neill is quite alive and well in (I think) Minnesota; perhaps someone can ask her.
A small rear-view mirror attached to my patented Backstroke Snorkel, duh!!!
forums.usms.org/blog.php
People certainly do solo channel swims all four strokes, but I can see some practical difficulties with actual races:
Back: How do you know where you're going?
Fly: clashing arms
***: clashing legs (can you imagine a frog kick to the face with swedish goggles on?)
Also...keeping legal strokes (due to waves) and monitoring that. No way you could have enough refs to watch and the water clarity would compound matters.
