Myths About Freestyle Swimming

Dear Friend,

I just returned from Denver, CO from doing a one-day Tri Swim Bootcamp. What I have found in the triathlon world is that there are not only very few coaches who work with triathletes specifically in swimming, but there are lots of outdated techniques and training strategies that are still being taught around the U.S. and around the world. Let’s look at a few of those.

Myth #1: Look straight ahead in freestyle.

I learned this growing up, but it has since been proven that looking down at the bottom of the pool is more efficient and will help beginners tremendously.

Myth #2: You need a strong kick to swim freestyle.

This may apply to sprinters, but even a sprint triathlon is not a sprint when you look at the overal distance. Your kick is mainly there to help you rotate through the water and keep you on top of the water. A light kick is ideal is you will not be using all your energy on the swim!

Myth #3: Drills are uneccessary, just swim more.

I would say the majority of Masters swim programs don’t do enough drills. This may be great for the 15-20% of Masters that compete in swim events, but many are like you: Triathletes that need technique work. In this case, especially as a beginner, drills are your foundation and you should never stop doing them completely.