7 Common Swimming Mistakes & How To Avoid Them!

Are you new to swimming? If so you could be making a number of these common mistakes…..We’ve got 7 that you could be guilty of! We'll identify the potential culprits and cover the solutions to take your freestyle swim technique to the next level!
0:00 Intro
0:22 Swimming Continuously
1:38 Going Flat Out
3:05 Lifting Head To Breathe
3:58 All The Gear
5:04 Incorrect Kit
6:58 Too Much Repetition
7:59 Comparisons
Useful Links
Submit your Photo and Video to us 👉 gtn.io/UPLOAD
Check out the GTN Shop 👉 gtn.io/TeamKit
GTN Training Plans 👉 gcn.eu/gtntp
Watch more on GTN...
📹 Absolutely Everything You'll NEED For Every Swim! 👉 • Absolutely Everything ...
📹 Watch our Editor’s Choice Playlist 👉 gtn.io/editorschoice
📹 Watch our weekly show, The GTN Show 👉 gtn.io/GTNshowPlaylist
Photos: © Triathlon / Getty Images
🎵 Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound / Artlist 🎵
Stay Funky - Gregory David
#gtn #triathlon #swimbikerun #swim #bike #run #swimming
The Global Triathlon Network (GTN) is the world's biggest triathlon KZbin channel, with new videos every day! GTN is for anyone who loves triathlon: from seasoned triathletes to first-timers - and everyone in between!
With the help of our former pro and Olympic medal-winning team, we’re here to inform, entertain and inspire you to become a better triathlete; including videos on:
- How to swim, bike, and run faster with expert knowledge
- Try our session ideas
- Investigations into wide-ranging topics
- The best triathlon bike tech and gear with pro-know-how
- In-depth, entertaining features from the heart of the sport
- Chat, opinion and interact with us across the channel and on social media!
Join us on KZbin’s best triathlon channel to get closer to the sport and to become a better, faster and fitter triathlete!
Welcome to the Global Triathlon Network.
Thanks to our sponsors:
Canyon bikes: gtn.io/canyon-bikes
THEMAGIC5: gtn.io/TheMagic5
MET Helmets: gtn.io/MET
ON Running: gtn.io/On-Running
Orca: gtn.io/Orca
Park Tool: gtn.io/parktool
Precision Fuel & Hydration: gtn.io/PrecisionHydration
Selle Italia: gtn.io/SelleItalia
Surpas: gtn.io/Surpas
Wahoo: gtn.io/Wahoo
Zwift: gtn.io/zwift
Watch our sister channels:
Global Cycling Network - / @gcn
GCN Tech - / @gcntech
GCN Racing - / @gcnracing
GCN Italia - / @gcnitalia
GCN en Espanol - / @gcnenespanol
GCN auf Deutsch - / @gcnaufdeutsch
GCN en Francais - / @gcnenfrancais
GCN Japan - / @gcnjapan
GCN Training - / @gcntraining
Global Mountain Bike Network - / @gmbn
GMBN Racing - / @gmbnracing
GMBN Tech - / @gmbntech
Electric Mountain Bike Network - / @embn

[@gtn]

Which of these mistakes do you make? 🤔

[@JamesMilliron]

My biggest swim mistake in triathlon training is going for a run instead... 😅

[@stevewakley9968]

I think that's what I'm doing wrong with the bike 😂

[@susannaviles]

The first time I tried lane swimming I made the mistake of not really checking out the speed of the other swimmers in the lane I was getting into and somehow ended up sharing a lane with people who I'm pretty sure were part dolphin. They were sooooo fast!!! I know to look for the slower people now so I'm not getting in anyone's way.

[@evabusova3971]

That's so me lol! Great video, thanks so much GTN. You guys are awesome!

[@cathnz9726]

I'm definitely a 'just swim' person, but our summer pool opens tomorrow, so I'll have to try an actual workout plan! I've done lessons all year and my backstroke has improved so much, it's amazing. However in freestyle, I feel since moving to breathing on both sides, I'm so much slower than before, even though I know my form is better.

[@allanhaddad]

Great video! guilty of most of them, too bad this video didn’t come out two weeks ago! after going from 32 meters and almost drowning to 1000m non stop (with snorkel) in the past 3 months now i’m out with a shoulder injury. Now to recover and take it back a few notches!

[@Underdog_Triathlete]

Absolutely agree with point 1! As my coach says, “It’s not the yards you do, it’s what you do with the yards.”

[@emmag00]

I always use to do my warmups too fast. My solution was to double the length of my warmup!

[@wongxinhao1996]

I incorporate 500m of drills into the end of every session just to slow down after all the speed work and sets to really build on form and get the feel of the water. Some days are longer endurance days while some days are short and hard 50s and 100s, just gotta mix it up so training doesn't get too boring

[@azchick1820]

I use a rash guard shirt until I warm up - takes the edge off the chill!

[@darrenthomas9928]

You guys in lanzarote at the mo? I've got a hotel booked with an Olympic size swimming pool , apparently loads of triathletes use this hotel, it's in playa blanca Dreams hotel

[@gtn]

Not at the moment, we've recently been in Tenerife though. Have a great time in Lanza 👌

[@demishade]

I'd be curious to know if it's a mistake to always swim only in freestyle. Would be be beneficial to learn and train in the other three strokes (occasionally) to complement freestyle training? Pro swimmers do this, but not sure if triathletes do it. #gtncouchescorner

[@AnaFerreira-nn3qm]

Agreed! I have seen pros using butterfly occasionally and was wondering what's the purpose of mixing styles in a training session. On a similar topic, is there an ideal pattern for training vs racing? Should I train only what I'm going to do during the race, like 3 strokes-1 breath? Should I aim for a pattern or just train all scenarios because open water swimming is so unpredictable?

[@christianb9597]

My biggest mistake was not going to the training sessions of my triathlon club and to train swimming on my own without someone watching and correcting my swimming style. I did this for two years and i my style got worse. When i started again training with my club, my trainer showed me so many flaws / errors in my swimming style, that i was shocked. I thought i have got rid of them years ago. After some months my style and performance was much better again.

[@winklertribe5268]

My biggest mistake is just getting in the pool and swimming lap after lap for the goal time or goal distance. I’ve tried a couple of Masters swim classes but that was useless!

[@doernerrr]

Yeah I’m guilty of just swimming, the farther the better in my mind. Although I’d like to improve my efficiency as much as possible, my primary objective is to gain a measure of assurance that when I get in the water for long course open water swims I won’t drown. Fast would be good but not essential.

[@joeekaps5840]

My biggest problem is keeping my head position correct. I feel like I'm doing everything right, but when I watch the film afterwards my head position is always popping out of the water too much and I'm not looking down. 😢

[@robohippy]

I am still surprised at how people get into the pool and swim the first lap or two at almost full speed..... Takes me 500 to 1000 yards to get 'warmed up'..... and that is after stretching....

[@dsd6538]

I am guilty of nearly always swimming with the buoyancy shorts because it sucks without 🤭

[@dominikludwin3747]

3:49 not possible to breath half face open mouth half in water

[@demishade]

You create a bit of a wake with your head that will allow you to breath in even with what feels like half-face in water. At faster speed this is easier, but can be done even at slow speeds

[@dominikludwin3747]

thanks @@demishade

[@wongxinhao1996]

Rather than rotating your body to get your head up, try tilting your head around the neck lifting your mouth slightly above water. The trick is to gradually let go of the air in your lungs during your stroke so when you come up to breathe you quickly take in air and go back into the water

[@mimi_micha8815]

I am currently stopped from swimming due to a terrible chlorine allergy. Any advice on this, anyone?

[@dsd6538]

What about open water as alternative with cold water equipment?

[@johannesbader4500]

Not allergic to chlorine, but once my skin got damaged to the point, that I contracted infections. Guess all public pools use chlorine, some more, some less. You could go for the hard core option and do open water. Did that during the Covid years b/c I was banned from training with the tri club during that time.

[@Lion-G227]

What are your symptoms from chlorine allergy? I am wondering if I have a chlorine allergy too

[@mimi_micha8815]

@Lion-G227 basically like a hayfever. Blocked and runny nose, sneezing, lasts for two days, sometimes longer. 🤧

[@mimi_micha8815]

@@dsd6538 German winter = not an option 😄😄

[@opus3989]

Well my 6:yo cheats by jumping on the bottom but i guess it did t qualify on the list 😅

[@alfkh]

i'm sure i'm "guilty" of some of this, can't exactly say which 1

[@gtn]

Maybe more than one? 😉

[@krunktina69]

thank you daddy

[@TamaEnergy]

I cannot get wuicker than 2.05/100m even aftsr a year of swimming 😂

[@elliegrimes7712]

Worth noting a year of swimming is a short time! Keep going, but also vary your sessions. You’ll get there

[@wongxinhao1996]

2.05 is an ok timing for a recreational swimmer. Mix it up do some sets and incorporate speed work. You are only as fast as you train. If you train hard and fast you will certainly become faster. 👍