HOW CHAMPIONS DO IT

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

IAN CROCKER AT 30 m OF HIS SILVER MEDAL 50 M BUTTERFLY RACE AT THE 2003 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN BARCELONA

This clip is slower than normal speed. The length of time between each frame is not known. Ian Crocker's time for this silver-medal swim was 23.62.

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

Notable Features

The kicking action that produces elevated hips is similar to that of Michael Phelps. Normally, this would not occur because it is unnatural and disrupts beneficial style features such as streamline and absolute counterbalancing. It is most likely due to the swimmer trying to get the hips up to produce an exaggerated undulating body movement, an aspect of butterfly swimming that is coached in belief that large hip undulations are desirable. Some hip undulation should occur in butterfly stroke but it should only be of a magnitude that accommodates efficient kicking and swimming economy. Exaggerated hip undulation is tiring and reduces propulsive efficiency.

Ian Crocker

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