How do I get better? Part 3

小臭贝

This week’s Speedo Tip of the Week is an excerpt from the November-December 2003 issue of Splash magazine, in which Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder Rowdy Gaines answers the question, “How do I get better?” Here, Gaines offers some advice for working on the physical side of swimming.

Gaines’ Tip:
On the physical side of swimming, consistency is the key word. We are in a demanding sport, but one that has so many rewards. As boring as these words sound – dedication, commitment, responsibility, teamwork, setting goals, hard work – they all involve being consistent.

Our sport demands consistency. Whether you are 8 years old and going to three practices a week, or 17 years old pushing eight to 10 practices a week, you need to be constant in going to those workouts.

People often ask me how much yardage they should swim. That is almost impossible to answer, because everyone’s physical makeup is so different. Some swimmers can handle 15,000 yards a day, while others may not be able to go more than 2,000 to 3,000.

The best people to determine the proper distance are your coaches. They should know what you are capable of doing because they are with you on a – here’s that word again – consistent basis. Age, sex, stroke specialty and what distance you swim, along with your physical makeup, are all incredibly important factors in determining how much yardage you should do in practice.

One thing I will tell you about the physical side of swimming that I think is very important – your physical makeup has no bearing on how fast you swim. So many successful swimmers have NOT met the criteria of a “perfect body.” It may help to be long and lean, but it is not the perfect answer to swimming fast. Brian Goodell is one of the greatest distance swimmers in history. He won gold medals in the 400m and 1500m free at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. He did not have a swimmer’s body. Standing at about 5’9” and not the slimmest guy in town, he had incredible technique and the heart of a lion.

The last thing to stress on the physical side is technique. The best swimmers in the world are constantly improving their stroke technique. Words like core stability, distance per stroke and streamlining are vital to becoming a better swimmer. Ask your coach about them. There really is no substitute for working on your technique.