'Master Popov' and his innovative approach to sprinting!

If Alexandre Popov wore a cap and a speedsuit back in the day, swimmers like Cielo, Leveaux, Sullivan, Bernard, would still be chasing the dragon's tail!

At the 2:50 mark, Popov does a drill that is extraordinarily hard; it's the hardest drill you will ever do: water polo freestyle with a dolphin kick. Caveat, be really warmed up before you do this drill or your shoulders will "spank" you!

My unqualified critique of a Terry Laughlin article at "about.com"

I saw this article a couple of weeks ago and I was apprehensive about posting it. I couldn't figure out why till tonight. In this about.com article, Terry Laughlin puts forth some interesting statistics and compelling arguments regarding Popov's power output in relation to the swimmers he competed against. Ultimately Laughlin makes a case for how important technique is over brute force. Here is a short paragraph from the article:

"... In the same vein, Rick Sharp and Jane Cappaert of the International Center for Aquatic Research have reported that of all the men's 100-meter freestylers in the 92 Olympics, the finalists averaged a power output 16% LOWER than everyone else in the field who FAILED to make finals. This is so because swimmers who maximize their stroke efficiency simply don't NEED as much power to swim fast. ..." [Link]

My problem with the article is Laughlin's stringent use of Popov's technique as an über template of perfect symmetry and grace which he seemingly suggests should be used as the de facto standard. Personally, I feel the freestyle form is fluid and evolving. I think one's gross anatomy, their flexibility, and the strength of the individual determines how they should swim. In other words you shouldn't fit the person to the stroke but rather fit the stroke to the person. To support my argument I included a video above from You Tube of Stefan Nystrand setting a world record in the 100 free SCM. Note, he swims like a submerged helicopter and he can do it faster than Popov.

In his first lap Nystrand takes 13-strokes. On laps two and three he takes 16 strokes, on his last lap I counted 19-strokes. I had to watch it twice to confirm.

UPDATE: I am submitting this video of Nystrand from the front view. Note how he looks up rather than downward. The total immersion school feels you should look more downward, Personally I have to look more downward to stay flatter in the water due to the shape of my body. Nystrand apparently does not have to.

I have posted this before of Popov but this is a much cleaner version

Alexander Popov - Free Phases
Uploaded by Quiche

It's like asking a mail-carrier if they would like to go for a walk after dinner!

Kristy Kowal was a Silver medalist in the 2000 Sydney games medaling in the 200m breaststroke. The photo to the right is what Kristy Kowal would look like with a white beard, if she were a Norse God, or a member of ZZ Top. (I love breaststroke photos, everybody looks so undignified.)

I was over at USA Swimming and they have a 20 questions article with Kristy about her life, hobbies and accomplishments post swimming retirement. (She is a land dwelling animal now.)

It seems that once a swimmer wins a medal or medals they seem to try and get as far away from a pool as possible. I am seeing this with Popov, Kowal, Evans, maybe Thorpe, and numerous other heroes. I guess after all those miles it is like asking a mail carrier if they would like to go for a or hike or a walk after they retired. [Link]

Alexandre Popov up close

Popov has amazing flexibility in his shoulders. However, note that he crosses over with his right arm in front of his head. If I did that I would get a shoulder injury and get less power from my pull but I happen to have abnormally tight shoulders whereas he does not. Also, he looks down as he swims but when he races, he only looks up slightly t0 about 15 degrees or so. See below YouTube.

Timing of the Arm Stroke in Freestyle Swimming

I linked to this site a day or two ago with a movie they featured of Grant Hackett and Ian Thorpe swimming side by side. Well, I couldn't get enough so I started clicking through the site and I found this page: "Timing of Arm-Stroke in Freestyle Swimming."

Therein are movies of Inge de Bruijn solo, Grant Hackett & Ian Thorpe, Michael Klim & Ian Thorpe, and Alexandre Popov & Gennadi Touretski all swimming against each other.

There are illustrations and photo illustrations of the freestyle arm timing and a critique discussing the difference between a sprint pull versus a distance one. I think this site is vital for triathletes or those experimenting with style. The site is in both Swiss/German and English. [Link]