Sports Science In Swimming

[Offtheblocks]

As a swimmer and sports science student i am interested in the application
of sports science in my own sport. Does anyone think that the use of sports
science in swimming is not fully used and if so what are your views on the
potential for the development of the sport especially in the areas of
biomechanics and psychology?

[jimmy77]

off the blocks,

I too was a sports science student and swimmer. To be honest if you look in all the journals there is a lot of research on swimming. this is especially apparent in biomechanics and all of the journals hold ample articles on the biomechanics of swimming. this is especially apparent in reference to freestyle and the effect of body roll, leg kick, and the propulsive phase of the stroke. Check out the J of biomechanics, J of applied biomechanics etc etc.

Although research on Freestyle, turns and starts has been done not a lot else has been researched i.e brs/bc/fly etc. Check out the Aussies as to the effect of biomechanics in swimming. It is massive over there adn could well be the reason for why they have become so good! They have even measured the length of strokes! (Thorpe being 8 inches longer than anyone else!! - no wonder he is soo good!)

I truly believe that the way to go in swimming is in Biomech and pysch. Psychology is already applied by some coaches although not all and it seems to be used as a group rather than to the individual.

Anyway the futures bright the futures sports science!

JD