HOW CHAMPIONS DO IT

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

MICHAEL PHELPS AT 30 m OF HIS WORLD RECORD GOLD MEDAL 200 m BUTTERFLY RACE AT THE 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN MELBOURNE

Each frame is 0.1 seconds apart. Michael Phelps' world-record time for this event was 1:52.09.

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Notable Features

Michael Phelps is vastly superior to all other 200-m butterfly swimmers, winning this race by more than three seconds, which is an "unheard of margin" in world championship swimming over the 200-m distance. He has some very noteworthy characteristics about his stroke: 1) the length of time in streamline, 2) the shallowness of both kicks, and 3) the hyperextension of the upper spine to facilitate breathing. He probably has a naturally endowed physique that moves through water with less resistance than most other swimmers, and a very good physiological engine suited to 200-400 m swimming events. One is struck by the simplicity of Phelps' stroke. He performs no extraneous or exaggerated actions. One could hypothesize that he should breathe every other stroke although the rhythm of every-stroke breathing might facilitate better oxygen utilization (i.e., it is his most economical movement cadence) than could be achieved by holding the breath longer with double-stroke breathing. Only detailed accurate measurements of a considerable number of physiological and biomechanical factors could resolve questions about his butterfly stroke.

Michael Phelps

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