HOW CHAMPIONS DO IT

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

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REBECCA SONI AT 60 m OF HER GOLD MEDAL 200 m BREASTSTROKE RACE AT THE 2011 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS HELD IN SHANGHAI, CHINA

Rebecca Soni won the 2011 World Championship 200 m breaststroke race in 2:21.47. Each frame in this analysis is 0.1 seconds apart.

This analysis is presented as an alternative to the style features shown in the 50 m race analysis of this swimmer. It is very likely that features of this swimmer's stroke will change with the slower velocity exhibited in this 200 m race. Perhaps this analysis will locate those differences.

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

Rebecca Soni exhibits many characteristics of a desirable breaststroke technique. However, two areas that could be improved are:

  1. At the end of the pull, a smaller round out should be performed so that the arms propel forward sooner than when they are partly pulled in. The hands should recover forward at an angle so that the upper arms follow in their wake. The hands and forearms should not be lifted over the surface at any time [resistance is not reduced when the hands break the surface because it is increased in another part of the body as a reaction to that movement].
  2. The breathing action should be faster, which might necessitate recovering with wider arms moving faster and also the body rising as little as possible (only to a height that will allow safe inhalation).

Both these suggested modifications would reduce the amount of resistance and energy expenditure that is required in the current stroke.

Rebecca Soni

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