Have you ever found yourself wondering what separates fast swimmers from those who struggle to keep up?

As a swim instructor and swimmer, I have learned through watching some of the fastest swimmers in the world that there are three essential elements to swimming fast.

Firstly, mastering technique is critical. Successful swimmers know how to execute all the right movements to perfection. They know the subtle tilt of the wrist before initiating their catch, where to bend the elbow to maximize their pull through and how to point their toes whilst keeping their ankles relaxed as they kick, to name a smidgen of a few.

While it may seem trivial, it’s the perfecting of these little details that can improve times and conquer PB’s. As I always say, "you’ll have to make up later with stroke correction what you aren't taught in learn to swim". So if you haven't already, go back a step and learn all the little details of swimming before you try swimming any faster or doing fancy drills.

Secondly, reducing drag is key. Swimming too wide and kicking too deep adds extra resistance and slows swimmers down. Streamlining the technique eliminates drag and allows the swimmer to use the natural flow of water to move themselves forward, without hindrance, to cut times and increase their efficiency in the water.

And last is timing. Timing separates the elite from the amateurs. Skilled swimmers know how to maximize and efficiently perform each perfected movement of their swim to create a fluid, well-timed motion through the water.

When all three essential elements are in harmony, swimmers can achieve a synergistic swim.

Like an old fashioned clock requiring multiple cogs working together to keep accurate time, each element is critical to maintaining efficiency and maximizing speed.

Visualize the catch and pull phase as the cogs that grab the water and propel the swimmer forward. The kick matched with the right amount of shoulder rotation are the cogs that add more power to the motions.

The cogs must be the right size, in the right place and timed correctly.

Like so, the multiple movements in swimming must be synergistic to maximize the results. Each essential element must be performed and executed together to create a stronger and more effective outcome – easy speed.

By proper coordination and combination of all the movements correctly whilst minimizing drag the swimmer creates a greater force than each movement would individually, showing that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Without each element and movement working in synchrony, the swimmer is not as efficient and effective as they could be. That is, if any part of the swim is not performed correctly, swimming becomes harder and the swimmer slows down. Losing time.

The takeaway from this brain purge…learn the technicalities of swimming through skill building. Yeah, I know there are a lot of them, but once you know them they become second nature and you won't have to think about them.

Practice the skills with drills to reinforce them into your swimming.

Get in the water and swim. Try it, test it, time it.

Happy swimming. And if you missed it, I write learn to swim books. They’re not just for kids and I promise you’ll learn stuff no one else is talking about.

Check them out at www.learntoswimtheaustralianway.au

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