Competitive breaststroke swimmers often have physical gifts that others do not, since the stroke requires extreme leg flexibility to get the best results. The fastest swimmers in the world can maximize the push that they get from their legs, allowing them to set records in the event. Many swimmers find it difficult to improve in the breaststroke, since genetic differences often help certain swimmers achieve greatness.
Competitive Technique
During a competitive breaststroke race, follow the three phases of arm movement. Start each stroke gliding along the surface of the water completely horizontal. This eliminates drag and maximizes your speed. Sweep out with your arms and then sweep back in almost immediately. Kick your legs as you sweep in and glide again in recovery position. The best swimmers implement a breathing pattern into these phases, so they always breathe at the same point in the stroke. Exhale throughout the stroke, so that you run out of air right before you return to the surface for another breath.
Genetic Factors
The breaststroke remains a difficult stoke on which to improve. The top breaststrokers in the world have a great range of motion in their legs, allowing them to propel themselves more with their kicks. Although you can improve by working hard, those without a great range of motion in their legs have a significant disadvantage. A large gap exists between the top breaststrokers in the world and everyone else because they have these genetic gifts.
Kicking Drill
The kick holds more importance in the breaststroke than in other swimming events because of the stroke's long recovery period. Competitive swimmers use a drill called the double or triple kick to improve leg strength. In the double or triple kick, kick two or three times for every pull that you complete with your arms. Focus on kicking your legs hard to make up for the lack of help from your arms.
World Records
As of July 2011, South African Cameron Van der Burgh holds the record in the 50 m men's breaststroke, Australian Brenton Rickard in the 100 m and Australian Christian Sprenger in the 200 m race. In the women's division, American Jessica Hardy holds the world record in the 50 m and 100 m breaststroke events, while Canadian Annamay Pierse holds the 200 m record. The breaststroke also appears as part of the 400 m individual medley and the 400 m medley relay.
References
- "Mastering Swimming"; Jim Montgomery, et al.; 2008
- "Developing Swimmers"; Michael Brooks; 2011
- USA Swimming; World, American and U.S. Open Records; July 2011
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