by Clarissa Hartley

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If the recent triumphant performance of the GB Olympic swimming team during the Tokyo Olympics still lingers in your memory, you’re not alone. Today, we have valuable insights to share from a former Olympic swimmer and performance guru, who has generously offered her wisdom to help you enhance your swimming techniques for every stroke. Let’s dive into her tips!

Have you ever questioned what secret formula professional swimmers use to perfect their strokes? Gifted to us from an Olympic great, we’re here with gold standard advice on refining your swimming techniques for four unique strokes – front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly.

Perfecting the Front Crawl Technique

The front crawl demands an elegant coordination; balancing arm movements with leg kicks, and synchronising breathing with the body’s rhythm. Don’t stress if it sounds complex. Our Olympics expert’s recommendations can help you smooth over these issues in no time.

• Session by the poolside, on rotating your head sideways to take a breath should work wonders.
• For the front crawl kick, remember, do not stretch your toes (no matter how elite swimmers seem to). It’s about relaxing the foot and ankle for a broader range of motion, not forcing it into place.
• Consider spending time practicing kicks at the wall for personalized feedback.

Improving Your Backstroke Technique

For a great backstroke, you need to imagine your body rotating on an axis while maintaining a stationary head that constantly gazes upward. Here are a few tips for acing this technique:

• Try balancing a half-filled paper cup on your forehead while staying afloat, to perfect your head position.
• Increase your glute strength to prevent the hips from sinking and creating a drag, slowing you down.

Polishing Your Breaststroke Technique

Though the breaststroke is a hit amongst casual swimmers, achieving a flawless technique can be technically challenging. Here are some valuable suggestions to get you started:

• Practice your leg kick with your arms forward, maintaining a streamlined position.
• Aim for a narrower leg kick as opposed to a wider one to maximize efficiency. You can use a pull buoy for practicing this technique.

Honing Your Butterfly Stroke

Renowned as the most demanding stroke, even for professionals, the butterfly stroke summons a strong upper body, rhythmically timed breathing, and unwavering momentum. Here are some tips:

• Avoid excessive undulations. Aim for a forward motion rather than downward when your arms enter the water.
• Consider strength training focused on your triceps, pectoral, and latissimus dorsi muscles to improve the force you apply during the underwater catch phase.
• Keep your head low to the water when breathing to reduce drag.

With these expert swimming tips at your fingertips, you are set for a transformed swimming experience!

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