ian thorpe of one of the greatest swimmers ever

I found this helpful to study in slow motion. Then I looked at your other video about "decreasing drag". WOW, that one was really good. I do triathlons and the decreasing drag video really made sense. Thanks for posting these. I am subscribing.

Thanks for the question and reply / explanation. I been going like a windmill since I started swimming.

You are certainly right that body rotation is important, and we agree that without any body roll you cannot recover your arm because your shoulder would be in the water. Yet we believe "catching more water" depends on the stroke catch and not body roll, and in fact too much body roll prevents a good catch. Injury isn't caused by lack of body roll but rather improper arm movement, and body roll does not determine if you use large muscle groups or not. That is a function of arm movement.

thanks for uploading it. What a lovely sight. Such a beautiful swimmer!!!

Your other video "Faster Freestyle by Reducing Drag" was really helpful, so I thought I would look at this one too. Interesting study of Ian.

love this song!!!!

Thanks, this is quite helpful.

I like the music choice!

thanks so much mate, i'll have to try that tomorrow when i swim. no one ever explained it like "closing the armpit" but that makes sense. My arms always get so tired and my back and chest muscles never seem to get involved.

Inward sweep refers to the motion of the forearm moving from in front of your shoulder inwards in a hooking action as opposed to downwards in a windmill fashion. Landing your hand on the body center line you can only move your hand across your body to the opposing shoulder where you have little strength.The main purpose of moving inwards rather than downwards is the it is easier to use the forearm to catch water rather than just the hand. Moving arm downwards does not pull your body forward.

What piece is this the music is amazing!

Sounds like the Itzhak Perlman version of the peice, goes nicely with your great explanations!

Hi. The music is Bach's Sonata #2 in A Minor for Solo Violin, BWV 1003: 4th movement, Allegro

I agree. Head all over the place! Roll with hips and shoulders.

Hi. The music is Bach's Sonata #2 in A Minor for Solo Violin, BWV 1003: 4th movement

nice vid

@jungweizer. the video is incorrect about that. you DO want to roll and rotate as much as possible. :)

i am also an inward sweeper... but i would say that ian thorpe's sweep is about 10% away from full completion. the last part of the sweep should be a full speed push instead of a swing away from body...

heh heh. the guy at the end makes ME look good.

@jungweizer The reason it says that, is because there is a difference. Yes you rotate your body, but only your upper body. You have a waist, it's designed for you to turn without taking your legs with you. You need to do this in the water. Your uper body will turn, but keep your legs straight, so they have continual power and force from the water. The uper body turns so you can extend your reach and pivot your shoulders. Your core muscles are the most important for the forward crawl.

Amazing video, very helpful and clear. I've been trying to use these tips over the last weeks and I got much faster! the last part of the video shows a man rolling and sinking, doesn't it? question: shall my fingers touch one another or its best to keep the distanced? thanks for posting

It means your arm should not windmill in circular rotation at the shoulder. That's very tiring for the shoulder. Instead, from the extended arm position, first bend your forearm 90 degree to point your fingers at the bottom of the pool, then just close your armpit in a motion parallel to the horizontal plane of your body. This armpit closing motion uses your back and chest muscles which are very strong. This motion pulls the elbow "inward" towards the body as you close your armpit.

The other very important part of the freestyle is front quadrant swimming. Always keep one arm extended out front while the other completes its recovery. It's almost like swimming w/ one arm at a time while the other rests out front. This keeps your body horizontal to reduce drag. Watch Thorpe closely, always one arm in front. Have fun!

How long have you been swimming? I see that you have taken to Total Immersion swimming. It's the best instructions I've found too, very efficient technique.

@mrgoki27 Couldn't agree more. Thorpe, Hackett, Thorpe, drowning. What's with the head bounce and huge 2-beat kick? That guy would learn more from watching videos of himself and removing some basic errors, than by adding another point of complexity to an already over-thought stroke.

Can somebody tell me please the name of the piece of music, thanks!

Could somebody PLEASE tell me the name of the music? It's driving me crazy not knowing it!!!

I'm in my 30's as well and I'm self taught with no technique. When my 5 yr old started to pass me out in swimming I decided it was time to get back in the water and learn a technique. Have started an improver course in my local gym but we seem to just swim up and down the pool. TI seems quite good especially with the different drills that you can practice. My biggest problem is getting to move with just kicking, I can't seem to get it. Have you come across any good videos for just kicking?

@jungweizer novice swimmers usually dont rotate their shoulders enough so the general rule of thumb is to encourage as much shoulder role as possible but in more recent years elite level athletes have gone towarsds less shoulder roll in free and back because it increases turnover, while allowing you to swim higher in the water and at a slight incline

Someone plz help. When they say inward stroke what does that mean?

In the part round about 1.20 it looks like his left arm is entering the water while his right arm is still fairly extended ie. before the big pull happens. But his right arm enters the water when his left arm is already in the pull phase. Is this an optical illusion or does his timing on each side really vary that much? Sorry for this probably basic and even stupid question, but I'm not a swimmer.

what do they mean by inward sweep?

inward sweep in freestyle. i think thats why theres soo many lig tears of the shoulder (in girls more so) doing butterfly. You have any breastroke technique videos.

I love everything about Ian Thorpe swim except his head position

i love to swim :)

ic thanks

Hi. The piece should be Bach Partita No.3 in E major, BWV 1006 (I. Preludio).

@mrgoki27 He is just a novice trying to get the same style as Ian. It is clear that Ian is way, way better. Better than almost everyone in the world, in fact.

fuckin awesome

I'm a recreational swimmer in my 30's. I'm really more interested in efficiency techniques than competitive swimming.

muzic is good :)

JS Bach Partita No.3 in E major, BWV 1006 (I. Preludio)

Flippers for feet also help

its a racing swimsiut.... like a high technology one ;)

What Music?!?!?! I didnt hear anything from 0:00 to 4:45!!!!!

nice baroque

Thanks! we have changed the comment.

n°1

I'm not kidding people, if someone doesn't tell me what the name of the music is, I might do some crazy things and you will all be responsible!!

at the last seconds it's evidently NO Ian Thorpe: this guy strokes with the fingers too far away from each other!

Body rotation is not encouraged in this video. This is wrong as correct body rotation is beneficial to the freestyle stroke in different ways. For efficient freestyle the shoulders, torso and hips (if more focused on hip driven freestyle for longer distances) all roll as one. It initiates easier arm recovery and prevents injury, catches more water with excess power as it uses larger muscles and core power in the propulsive phase.

lol !

I WILL NEVER SWIM AGAIN

low elbow is obvious at the guy, from the end of the clip, swim totally wrong, but great part of clip concerning Ian

The guy at the end is doing the opposite to this clip is preaching ..shame on you DRUNKEN male dolphin reincarnation haha

EVERY BODY SAYS HOW PEOPLE SHOULD SWIM FREESTYLE, LIKE THIS GUY WHO APEARS AT LAST THAT TRIES TO DO THIS ONDULATED RITM OF IAN BUT HE EXAGERATS THE MOVES

hes not kcking under water and ur supposed 2 kick under water

go and ..........

wrong. that last "bit" is wasted movement. if you dont believe me, go to Auburn swim camp and learn from cesear ciello.

@wassuppaska music doesnt matter its a pleasure that is absoultly useless

TOO SLOW, TOO FAR

whoever was swimming at the end of the video... tisk tisk your fingers should be shut together and your kicking should be non-stop your video only points out the basics of swimming that every good swimmer should know.. personally I haven't learned a thing from your "Study"

Shoulda chosen some more annoying music

Hi. The music is Bach's Sonata #2 in A Minor for Solo Violin, BWV 1003: 4th movement

Can somebody tell me please the name of the piece of music, thanks!

JS Bach Partita No.3 in E major, BWV 1006 (I. Preludio)