The modern freestyle or front crawl stroke was first demonstrated in London in 1844 by two Native American swimmers named Flying Gull and Tobacco. British observers dismissed the swimming technique as uncouth, even though the Native Americans easily bested British swimmers. In 1873, John Arthur Trudgen reintroduced the front crawl to Britain, and it gained acceptance. Freestyle is the fastest swimming stroke. It is also the only stroke in which you do not have your face out of the water to breathe. Instead, you turn your head to one side. Proper breathing technique for freestyle swimming is consequently the most difficult swimming skill for many novice swimmers to master.
Step 1
Exhale while your face is underwater. When you turn your head to breathe, you’ll only have a second to inhale. You do not have time to exhale completely and inhale while your mouth is clear of the water.
Step 2
Align your head with your body between breaths. Don't move your head, except when you turn it to breathe. Focus your eyes on the bottom of the pool directly beneath you. This will help you keep your head still and properly aligned.
Step 3
Breathe on one side of your body during every other stroke. Each arm pull counts as a complete stroke. Turn your head toward the side on which your arm passes overhead. Always breathe on one side, either your right or your left.
Step 4
Rotate your head until your mouth just clears the water, and inhale sharply. Do not lift your head. The passage of your head and body through the water forms a bow wave as you swim. A pocket, or trough, then forms behind the bow wave, so the water level beside your head is lower than the surrounding water. If you keep your head properly positioned, your mouth will be in the trough, making it easy to breathe.
Step 5
Avoid over-rotating your head. Turn it only enough to take a quick breath. Immediately turn your head back to a face-down position, and begin to exhale to prepare for your next breath.
Things You'll Need
- Swimming pool
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