An illustrated guide to competitive swimming containing detailed overviews of the four primary strokes; racing strategies; and the most effective training methods and the science behind why they work.

In Swim Speed Secrets, 4-time Olympian, gold medalist, and triathlon world champion Sheila Taormina reveals the swim technique used by the world’s fastest swimmers. Over the course of 4 Olympic Games and throughout her career as a world champion triathlete, Taormina refined her exceptional technique as a student of the sport, studying the world’s best swimmers using underwater photographs and video analysis. From Johnny Weissmuller to Michael Phelps, the world’s fastest swimmers share two common elements: high stroke rate and a high-elbow underwater pull. Many swimmers and triathletes neglect the underwater pull, distracted by stroke count or perfecting less critical details like body position, streamlining, and roll. Swim Speed Secrets focuses on producing power—the most crucial element of swimming—to help triathletes and swimmers overhaul their swim stroke and find the speed that’s been eluding them. With a commonsense approach that comes from decades of practice and years of hands-on coaching experience, Taormina shows swimmers how to transition to faster swimming. Swim Speed Secrets includes: The best drills to cultivate a more sensitive feel for the water Dryland and strength building exercises to develop arm position and upper body musculature Crisp photos of Olympic swimmers and variations in their high-elbow underwater pull Clear descriptions of the key moments of the underwater pull Tips that helped her perform at a world-class level for two decades Sheila Taormina’s Swim Speed Secrets brings the focus back where it belongs—to a powerful underwater stroke. With this approach, triathletes and swimmers can stop swimming for survival and break through to new levels of speed and confidence in the water.

Let one of the world's greatest swimming coaches teach you how to perfect your competitive strokes In "Swimming Fastest"--a revised and updated version of one of the best books ever written on competitive swimming--author Ernest Maglischo reveals the science behind the training principles that led his teams to 13 NCAA national championships at the Division II level and 19 conference championships. This book is the definitive reference on stroke technique and training methods for swimming. It shows you how to apply scientific information to the training process so that you can swim stronger and faster. "Swimming Fastest" addresses not only the how but also the why of training. It's the one source that you can turn to for reliable information about hydrodynamics and exercise physiology, giving you all the information you need to evaluate present and future concepts of training and stroke mechanics. "Swimming Fastest" covers every aspect of competitive swimming. The book is heavily illustrated, with more than 500 illustrations and photos featuring world-class swimmers. Sequences of photos taken from the front, side, and underneath views show you exactly how to perform competitive strokes, starts, and turns. This book is a source that coaches and athletes will pull down from their shelves again and again for reference. In part I Maglischo masterfully explains the mechanics of competitive swimming. He presents detailed technique analysis of the four primary strokes: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. He also explores the roles of stroke rate, stroke length, and drag reduction and reevaluates the role of lift forces and the Bernoulli principle in swimming propulsion. He explains the complex relationship between stroke length and stroke rate and swimming speed, and he reviews recent findings on the physical basis of swimming propulsion and the techniques that swimmers use to apply propulsive force. Part II explains the physiology behind the most effective training methods and provides detailed sample workouts and training programs for each event. Maglischo provides critical information to help you train more accurately and monitor your training more effectively. He evaluates current training theory, explaining why the anaerobic threshold theory of training needs revision and why muscle fiber types are important to swim training. Maglischo also presents important new studies that define the relationship between endurance and sprint training, and he suggests their implications for training. Part III addresses topics that pertain specifically to competition and racing. Maglischo shares his insights and recommendations for pre-race tapering, establishing race pace, racing strategies, and post-race routine. Every swimming coach and serious swimmer will benefit from this book. "Swimming Fastest" will be the first resource you turn to when you want to trim precious seconds off your best times.

Editors Riewald and Rodeo assemble many of the world’s leading swimming experts to reveal the latest in research, technology, training, and performance across the sport. Authoritative and applicable, Science of Swimming Faster dives into the physiology, biomechanics, medicine, psychology, and training for swim performance while providing prescriptive advice along the way.

In order to enhance your performance, swimming alone is not enough. An effective strength training is crucial if you want to improve your swimming times. This book shows you what types of strength training benefit swimming and how to develop a winning routine. It includes swim-specific strength- training and lots of sample workouts.

Swim better—and enjoy every lap—with Total Immersion, a guide to improving your swimming from an expert with more than thirty years of experience in the water. Terry Laughlin, the world’s #1 authority on swimming success, has made his unique approach even easier for anyone to master. Whether you’re an accomplished swimmer or have always found swimming to be a struggle, Total Immersion will show you that it’s mindful fluid movement—not athletic ability—that will turn you into an efficient swimmer. This new edition of the bestselling Total Immersion features: -A thoughtfully choreographed series of skill drills—practiced in the mindful spirit of yoga—that can help anyone swim more enjoyably -A holistic approach to becoming one with the water and to developing a swimming style that’s always comfortable -Simple but thorough guidance on how to improve fitness and form -A complementary land-and-water program for achieving a strong and supple body at any age Based on more than thirty years of teaching, coaching, and research, Total Immersion has dramatically improved the physical and mental experience of swimming for thousands of people of all ages and abilities.

Swim Like A Pro is the most comprehensive guide for swimmers looking to improve their performance and health!Fares Ksebati is one of the most trusted swim coaches in the world and has created a proven training program that has helped hundreds of thousands of swimmers improve their stroke technique and swim more efficiently.Swim Like A Pro uses a holistic approach to help you swim faster with less effort and with more enjoyment. If you're just getting started in your swimming journey, this couldn't be a better time to start!The resources in this book in this book and the online course will not only expose you to the fundamentals of technique training but also the world of strength and conditioning, nutrition, and injury prevention. Swim Like A Pro will offer you:- A Fresh Perspective On Swimming- A Deeper Understanding of Stroke Technique and Training- A Strategy to Set SMART Swimming Goals- A Holistic Approach To Swim Smarter: Nutrition, Dryland, and Mental Training- A Series of Inspiring StoriesAre you ready to swim faster and smarter than ever before?Take action towards your goals, and order Swim Like A Pro now!!ONLINE COURSE:Swim Like A Pro offers an online video course that includes swim drills, workouts, links to additional video content and an exclusive Q&A section that will grow over time.swimlikeapro.comEvery chapter has a corresponding video(s) and section in the online course. You'll be able to see and hear my explanation for each concept and stroke technique in this book. Seeing a visual representation of each concept can make all the difference in how fast you make progress.The online course has bonus video sections, a swim workout template, and interviews with swimmers who have lost weight, completed ironmans, and even won Olympic Medals! While the online video course is not required, it's highly encouraged.

In her best-selling book Swim Speed Secrets, 4-time Olympian and gold medalist Sheila Taormina revealed the freestyle swimming technique used by the world's fastest swimmers. Now in Swim Speed Strokes Taormina shows swimmers and triathletes how they can swim with elite technique in all four swimming strokes--butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. Using crystal-clear photographs and her engaging, straightforward style, Coach Taormina explains the science behind power and speed in the water, explores the elements common to every stroke, and examines stroke technique in detail in individual stroke chapters. Swim Speed Strokes goes deep into the fastest swimming technique for each stroke, breaking down the pull, kick, core movement, and timing of 13 elite swimmers and Olympians including Peter Vanderkaay, Rebecca Soni, Aaron Peirsol, Rowdy Gaines, Ashley Whitney, Vlad Morozov, Ariana Kukors, Andrew Gemmell, Laura Sogar, Nicolas Fink, Elizabeth Beisel, Doug Reynolds, and Melanie Margalis. Taormina interviews each athlete and analyzes underwater photos and race stroke data to break down their technique in butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. From the catch through the curvilinear path and diagonal phase to the power-packed finish phase, Taormina explores the pull patterns to show how any swimmer can improve their own swimming. As Taormina shows in Swim Speed Strokes, the fastest technique for all four swimming strokes is remarkably similar. One-stroke swimmers will find big improvements in practicing the others, refining their feel for the water, coordination, and stroke efficiency. Whether you want to master every stroke or simply improve on your best one, Swim Speed Strokes will show you how to become the strongest swimmer you can be.

From an Olympic medalist, a proven, step-by-step program for helping you swim your best Endorsed by Olympic gold medalist Jenny Thompson and written by two-time Olympic winner Tracey McFarlane-Mirande, Championship Swimming brings Olympic-level techniques and training to intermediate swimmers who want to achieve their best. With her proven program, McFarlane-Mirande takes you from 0 to 60 in just 30 days. This comprehensive manual features: Step-by-step drills for improved strokes and more enjoyable workouts Tips on how to eliminate "drag" Techniques for swimming more powerfully with less effort Dry-land exercises Easy-to-follow illustrations From intermediate to competitive swimming, Championship Swimming is sure to improve the quality of every swim, whether for leisure, exercise, or going for the gold.

Included are the latest techniques used by some of the world's fastest swimmers and new methods of stroke measurement. The extensive coverage of training in Part I begins with a discussion of basic physiology and energy metabolism, equipping you with background information necessary to fine-tune your individual training techniques. You'll find information on special topics, including female swimmers, masters swimmers, and training in various age groups, plus coverage of the anaerobic threshold theory of endurance training, systematic approaches to using energy systems in training, and seasonal planning.