Pieter Van den Hoogenband would have beaten Phelps in the 200 if the pool were two hundred meters long

So say says Clay Evans, co-founder of my swim club, Southern California Aquatics (SCAQ), and Olympic silver medalist. Here is what he had to say in an email to me:

• First of all here are the splits. Michael: 24.47 - 26.43 - 26.73 - 26.13. Pieter's: 24.57 - 26.40 - 27.03 - 28.1. Since it is YouTube video the clarity is a bit degraded but let me say that it seems that Michael's incredible dolphin kick got him about 45% of a body length over Peter off the start. Then Pieter is nearly even at the wall but Michael gains nearly 50% of a body length over Peter after the first turn. Again Pieter narrows that gap but Michael gains at least 55% off the 100 wall and an incredible 65% of a body lead off the final 150 meter wall. You add those up and you are talking about 215% of a body length or over two body lengths. Without turns Pieter wins out in an imaginary 200-meter long pool.

My take is that the Europeans are going to be doing butterfly sets and IM workouts. This World Championship has been a clinic for the whole world. HE went on to say about breathing:

• Other notes from this YouTube: every single swimmer in that 200 free breathes every two strokes. I do not know where all these triathletes are getting stroke instruction to breathe every 3rd but it is obvious that every two is the way to go. Males do not breathe every 3rd stroke in the 200, 400 or 1500 because it is 50% less air. I can not imagine racing like that for a long distance. OK, sure in the 100 they breathe less and the 50 they don't breathe at all but in long races you want the air.

The next part was for me since I stall when I breathe during a 200. He explains why using Thorpe as the "alpha swimmer" to emulate:

• Ian Thorpe has a classical, totally symmetrical style and was able to do this with a low deep breath. His mouth is getting air via a nice wave that creates a trough that allows him a slighter turn of the head. More of a turn and he might not have had such perfection.

• Many swimmers turn their heads too far for a breath and thus "stall" or slow up their arm stroke rhythm. One way to over come this is with a lope or learn to breathe Ian style. Now, I am not sure that I would encourage swimmers should to go out of their way with an intention of loping. However if it develops, so be it, it is not that bad, but remember to keep both arms long, streamline and catch like you should and push back like you should. As I said in one of my previous articles Michael did not have a lope in the 200

• Also notice that every swimmer at these World Championships are swimming with their head looking forward at least 55 degrees or more from the straight down to the bottom. Again, you hear over and over, head down looking at the bottom; sorry, this does not happen in real life. Michael does occasionally because of his lope which seems to go from a 20% look forward for a slight fraction of time but then corrects himself to a 75% look forward. Remember Ian Thorpe, he was always so 75% look forward. (SCAQ's best swimmers all have a 75% look forward from straight down).

Michael Phelps 200 free world record swim this week.

Watch his turns, he completely devours the field. Van Den Hoogenband takes 2-and-a-half strokes before Phelps emerges.

I just watched the Phelps 200 meter world record race and his turns were lethal

Michael Phelps' world record for the 200 was greatly assisted by his turns. He was easily getting 10 meters underwater before emerging to the surface with absolutely no loss of momentum whatsoever. His turns were so devastating to his competitors that Van den Hoogenband; (silver Medal), would take up to two-and-a-half strokes before Phelps' took his first.

To a master swimmer who competes or even a triathlete who duck dives when entering or exiting to or from an open water event, this accomplishment stresses the importance of doing butterfly regularly.

Herald Sun: [Link]
Sports Australia: [Link]
The Guardian Limited: [Link]
Chicago Tribune: [Link]
This is London: [Link]