Coaching

OK Swimming Canada, Time To Cancel Trials and Other Swim Meets

March 13, 2020 Rick Madge2 Comments

The coronavirus pandemic is fundamentally changing our lives, at least in the short term. We've seen sweeping closures and suspensions in virtually every activity that involves many humans gathering in one place. And this includes almost every professional sport plus many amateur sports. The international swimming community is taking this seriously as well. USA Swimming… Continue reading OK Swimming Canada, Time To Cancel Trials and Other Swim Meets

Coaching

Deconstructing Lochte’s Underwater, and FINA’s Rush To Disallow It

August 30, 2015August 30, 2015 Rick Madge11 Comments

Although it’s not officially called the Lochte Rule, it might as well be. Ryan Lochte’s now famous dolphin kicking on his back on the freestyle leg of the 200 IM final at the World Championships is the only possible reason for FINA’s announcement that it will soon disallow it. You can see the race HERE… Continue reading Deconstructing Lochte’s Underwater, and FINA’s Rush To Disallow It

Coaching

Is the Swimming World Catching Up to the US?

August 14, 2015August 14, 2015 Rick Madge1 Comment

Those of you who watched the recent World Championships results were probably as shocked as I was with the Day 1 news that both the US and Australian Men's teams missed making finals in the 4x100 Freestyle relays. Both did as they always do – swam 4 slower swimmers in the heats to rest up… Continue reading Is the Swimming World Catching Up to the US?

Coaching

More Than You Want to Know About Swimming Disqualifications

January 24, 2015January 25, 2015 Rick Madge6 Comments

Disqualifications are an essential part of swimming. It's there lurking in the background of every race in every meet. But what's the real purpose of disqualifications? It might not be what you think. Disqualifications are not there to punish cheaters. The purpose of a disqualification is to prohibit certain movements or actions which have the… Continue reading More Than You Want to Know About Swimming Disqualifications

Coaching

The End of the Breaststroke Pullout?

December 20, 2014December 20, 2014 Rick Madge6 Comments

I really don't think I'm overstating this. The breaststroke pullout may be going the way of the dodo bird. On Nov. 29, 2014, FINA issued a ruling (here), in which they change the allowable use of a single dolphin kick following starts and turns. The old version of rule SW 7.1 stated After the… Continue reading The End of the Breaststroke Pullout?

Coaching

Is Russia the New East Germany?

December 5, 2014December 5, 2014 Rick Madge3 Comments

A few days ago a bombshell exploded in the sporting world. On Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014, German broadcaster ARD aired a segment called "Top-secret Doping Dossier: How Russia produces it's Winners". It included a tremendous amount of evidence and on-camera testimony from Russian officials, coaches and athletes on massive and systemic doping, coverups and corruption… Continue reading Is Russia the New East Germany?

Coaching

More Than You Want to Know About the New Backstroke Start Wedge

November 15, 2014November 15, 2014 Rick Madge8 Comments

More Than You Want to Know About the New Backstroke Start Wedge In keeping with my "More Than You Want to Know" series, I'm including some backstroke and backstroke start history. But take a look, there's some fascinating stuff and some really old Olympic backstroke videos. After that we'll discuss the new backstroke starting systems.… Continue reading More Than You Want to Know About the New Backstroke Start Wedge

Coaching

Swimming By the Numbers: How Elite Women Swim the 200 IM

August 17, 2014 Rick Madge1 Comment

After a long delay, this is the next instalment in a series that looks at how the elite swim the 200 by looking at their race splits. This time we're analyzing the 200 Individual Medley for women.It's taken me a long time to figure out how to analyze the 200 IM. When I analyze a… Continue reading Swimming By the Numbers: How Elite Women Swim the 200 IM

Coaching

Swimming’s Growing Problem

August 1, 2014August 1, 2014 Rick Madge4 Comments

Swimming has a doping problem. And no, this isn't a history lesson about the notorious 70s and 80s. Or 90s. This is now, and its spreading. The issue came up most recently with a surge of recent doping suspensions of Russians, including world record holder Yuliya Efimova, former world record holder Sergey Makov, and now… Continue reading Swimming’s Growing Problem

Coaching

Faster, Better, Stronger Swimmers?

May 3, 2014May 3, 2014 Rick Madge14 Comments

In March 2014, David Epstein, a sports science reporter, gave a brilliant TED talk, "Are athletes really getting faster, better, stronger?", in which he explores some of the principal reasons behind the assault on the record books. I strongly advise you watch it. It's just under 15 minutes, and you can find it here .… Continue reading Faster, Better, Stronger Swimmers?