HOW CHAMPIONS DO IT

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

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DANIEL GYURTA AT 30 m OF HIS GOLD MEDAL WORLD RECORD 200 m BREASTSTROKE RACE AT THE 2012 LONDON OLYMPIC GAMES

Daniel Gyurta's time for this 200 m event was 2:07.28, a world record. Each frame is 0.1 seconds apart.

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.

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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

Daniel Gyurta displays an arm pull that appears to be very effective. The positioning of the arms to apply a large arm area that develops propulsion (Frames #2 through #4) could be used as a teaching model for breaststroke swimmers.

Although a world-record holder and Olympic champion, the swimmer illustrates undesirable elements in the arm movement forward. Initially starting in a good position forward of the shoulders (Frame #6), the arms dive forward and down, and then the action to correct the disadvantageous position achieved through that movement all create unnecessary movements and increased turbulence. It would seem that recovering below the water and extending forward at a constant hand-depth would be better form and create less resistance.

The diving arms on recovery lead to the feet finishing low as part of a counter-balancing reaction. Then the body straightening and its realignment, and the hands and feet rising cause an overall readjustment to a streamlined position. That corrective action moves a lot of water and takes time that could be used to achieve a higher rate. That is an unnecessary action.

Gyurta's arm-pull is worthy of emulating but the rest of the stroke has problems. Only the final streamlined posture (Frame #13) is a part of the non-arm-pull that is worth emulating.

Daniel Gyurta

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