HOW CHAMPIONS DO IT

Researched, produced, and prepared by Brent S. Rushall, Ph.D., R.Psy.

AARON PEIRSOL AT 175 m OF HIS GOLD MEDAL WORLD RECORD 200m BACKSTROKE RACE AT THE 2005 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN MONTREAL [LEFT SIDE PERSPECTIVE]

Each frame is .1 seconds apart. Aaron Peirsol's new world record set in this event was 1:54.66. This view is from the swimmer's left side. The previous analysis for this section of the Swimming Science Journal is a companion to this one and looks at the swimmer from his right side.

This stroke analysis includes a moving sequence in real time, a moving sequence where each frame is displayed for .5 of a second, and still frames.

The following image sequence is in real time. It will play through 10 times and then stop. To repeat the sequence, click the browser's "refresh" or "reload" button.

The following image sequence shows each frame for half a second. It will play through 10 times and then stop. To repeat the sequence, click the browser's "refresh" or "reload" button.

At the end of the following narrative, each frame is illustrated in detail in a sequential collage.

Notable Features

Aaron Peirsol's stroke is reasonably symmetrical in terms of propulsion developed and actions exhibited by both the arms and legs. There are features in his stroke that should be instructed to young swimmers once they have developed a reasonably stable backstroke form. Those features contradict teachings from yesteryear that continue to persist in many swimming programs today.

Aaron Peirsol

Return to Table of Contents for this section.