Is There A Perfect Swimming Technique For Triathlon? | Swim Like A Triathlete

A perfect triathlon swimming stroke? Does it exist? For most of us, taking part in triathlon means we will be swimming in the open water, which is obviously a very different experience of swimming up and down a pool. We explore what a triathlon-specific swim stroke might entail!
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For the vast majority of us, taking part in triathlon means we will be swimming in the open water, which is obviously very different experience to swimming up and down a pool. And with that change in environment, a slight change in stroke style is required. But how, and why?
Well, today Fraser is going to be exploring the components of what a triathlon-specific swim stroke might entail, and explain how you can adapt your own stroke to better cope with that open water environment for your next triathlon race!
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📹 Pool Swim Stroke Vs Open Water Triathlon Stroke 👉 gtn.io/PoolVOpenWater
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[@gtn]

Have any more questions about swimming? Leave us a comment!

[@perro0076]

About the kicking. Holding on to the side of the pool, body horizontal, eyes just about above the water level (sight swimming), memorize/figure out the slowest kick rate that will stop the legs from sinking. The amplitude must not be bigger than the thickness of the torso (chest to spine) or if you can imagine yourself swimming towards yourself, you mustn't see the feet behind you. Once the kicking is sorted. You can concentrate on other stuff. Invest on a camera you can take into the water.

[@duhvn]

Great tip. Gonna try this today thank you!

[@tombabcok3916]

Excellent explanations, you've answered a lot fo my questions around swimming technique. Subscribed 🔔

[@Megalosmalakas1977]

thanks great video very informative

[@coachw5245]

Open water swimmers tend not to ‘glide’ in their ‘catch’ ‘set-up phase’, prior to their ‘catch’ phase of their swim stroke [less glide equates to more strokes] ... however, whether straight or bent arm recovery out of the water, it is what happens in the water which when coupled with good body toughtness, balance and alignment which produces the greatest forward propulsion. In both pool and open water swimming, the more efficient the all-important underwater phase, the faster that athlete will travel.

[@nellyt2807]

Nice comment

[@nadoyvivo6808]

tremendo video. Hay mucho más en el recobro de lo que creemos. Es tan relajado que lo olvidamos. But recovery is one of the main keys to achieve a smooth freestyle technique.

[@lluiszardoyaVLOGS]

Loved it! Thanks!

[@lwittrock1]

Another great video!

[@clemensalud]

Very good video. 😊 thanks

[@pineapplehazeclub]

Thanks pal! Amazing info 👍👍👍👍💯🏊

[@ianstewart8301]

This helped me not feel so bad for my open water flutter kicks.

[@bernardhaboc4056]

Thank you this helps me a lot

[@gtn]

Glad to hear it!

[@MrTraveller.]

Valuable Tri Info. Thx u & shout out from Taiwan 🇹🇼

[@Dinckelburg]

Big respect for Taiwan

[@glenngundermann2433]

What is the ideal stroke rate for pool and ows?

[@JaneDoe-kq1vs]

Hello, I have a question regarding starting. When we do a Sprint Triathlon (750, 20, 5), do I have to start the swimming with the starter? I have never done that in my life. If so, if it is not accessible, how can I practice?

[@frankeeeej]

I think the swimmer with the best technique for a triathlete to try and copy, would be olympic 1500m champion Gregorio Paltrineiri. Very high stroke rate, no glide out front and no kick. Exactly what we need ;)

[@brianfosterkinsale4403]

Not necessarily no kick, but a very light minimal flutter kick. Katie ledecky would be quite good in the open water id imagine

[@gersonberthault3880]

Thanks for these important tips

[@gtn]

No problem!

[@jonathancorpuz]

finally thank you

[@adrienbraud1663]

So in England they also swim on the other side of the road! Bonus learning from this great video

[@alainbellemare2168]

learn to swim in a pack by taking a cable or two out of the pool and swimming laps in groups of 3 or 4

[@gregvassilakos]

When circle swimming in a shared pool lane in the UK, do you swim clockwise (keeping to the left) or counter-clockwise (keeping to the right)?

[@davidbennettcccu658]

Usually lanes alternate so you end up swimming the same way as the person closest to you in the lane next to you. Reduces arm hits.

[@kimfraser-rybinski9554]

Clockwise in Australia. The pool nazis will soon let you know!

[@fnds64]

How about turns? Any helpful advice?

[@sgritcdas8648]

Only freestyle technic triathlon apply sir?

[@DM-kj3gb]

We need detailed videos on each of these differences

[@frannelk]

This is something that I discovered while watching someone first triathlon vid, that guy mentioned that he was kicked, slapped and his goggles got pulled down... So you have to be ready for this.

[@chrisdm1703]

I feel the more I sight in open water the more nauseous I get. Any tips for a 5k on a rough course

[@KoenMiseur]

I started training for my first triathlon, it's also been 15 years that I've trained swimming, I was always a good breastroke swimmer and was never a good crawl swimmer, mostly because I found the breathing much harder. I know crawl is faster, but how much and is it also more efficient? I know i'm going to be slow at the swim part but I want to save as much energy, is the crawl still the stroke to do?

[@glenngundermann2433]

Yes, the front crawl is the stroke to do. There is no comparison if you want to swim the most efficient. It takes much less energy. Frankly, there isn't enough space to do the whip kick with everyone near you.

[@brianlong2334]

Alone the time difference over 400m is going to be huge so free is the way to go. But the difference between the two is about you over all free is faster but if you are faster at breast stick with it and try to spend a year traning up ya free.

[@techch82]

Same here. I used to be mostly breastroke swimmer, maybe also backstroke. but never liked the freestyle, I used to run out of breath I think. Now I came back after 20 years trying to get into open water swimming. So far 3 months training in the pool and I have trouble in swimming frestyle nonstop more than 100 meter, I just keep running out of breath. Maybe the style is wrong, I also have some trouble with the feet work, hoping to improve slowly..

[@sportysbusiness]

Learn the total immersion technique and prepare to be amazed at how easy it is on your breathing. Revolutionised my long-distance swimming, it is so energy efficient.

[@KoenMiseur]

@@sportysbusiness Any more info on that?

[@markfoz7248]

I struggle when sea swimming (I’m a novice) when I breath and take water into my mouth. I panic and it throws my stroke completely off. Any advice?

[@gravitysandwich4826]

Swimming coach here, that unfortunately happens to everyone! Even the pros. Simplest way to tackle this panic is through exposure therapy. Swimming as regularly as possible (number of sessions rather than length) will help you relax in the water, and just know that experiencing this discomfort is part of the process. You will over time (less than you think) get used to water being in and around your mouth and before long at all it won't even bother you!

[@markfoz7248]

@@gravitysandwich4826 thank you. Yes it won’t stop being going back in and I’ve learnt to have a drink on the shore ready. Thank you nice to know I’m not alone.

[@markankone9362]

Only one andswer, Lucy charles

[@raphi7279]

I‘m the swimmer in a Challenge Half Team, in June. I‘m able to swim the 1.9km in about 39 Minutes, what do you think is it possible to go under 30 Minutes, 6 months from now? Any Training Tips? Problem is, There’s only time for one ore swim training days per week. Thanks for the good work!

[@glenngundermann2433]

You don't say how many times per week you are swimming, how many KMs per session, are you doing interval training, are you swimming with a team with a coach looking at your technique or solo and nobody critiquing your technique? So many variables.

[@glenngundermann2433]

After re-reading your post, if you are saying only one swim per week, I would think not possible. You may be different but the general saying is 3 times per week to maintain and 4 times per week to improve. Age is a factor as is how many years you've been swimming and your physical characteristics. If it's important to you, go find a swim coach and swim/tri team to swim with.

[@aamirnagaria2189]

I am finding it difficult to swim long with a straight arm recovery. Is it expected in the beginning?

[@glenngundermann2433]

Just practice your normal swim technique in open water and you will find the best way to swim for yourself. You will adapt to the environment. Practice practice practice in open water.

[@glenngundermann2433]

P.S. I've been doing triathlons since the 1980s with 6 full Ironman races under my belt. I don't use a straight arm recovery. My swim times for 3.8 km range from 1 hour to ? (I don't remember). My Lake Placid 2019 swim took 1:17. You will naturally find what works for you.

[@aamirnagaria2189]

Glenn Gundermann Thanks for your advice! Will keep that in mind

[@brianlong2334]

@@glenngundermann2433 You can still practice, practice, practice in the pool and be good at open water. My first open water 5k was 1h 6m.

[@vanceuffelman8745]

Is only the front crawl the focused stroke ... ?

[@gtn]

We've got plenty of videos on other strokes if you take a look in our swimming playlist: gtn.io/SwimWithGTN

[@peterfrknpan6674]

But all that high straight arm stroke is using the assumption that the water is going to be choppy in some manner. I’d say learn hot to swim that high arm stroke and prepare but don’t count on it.

[@stevenmassheder5494]

I still can't master crawl and am breast stroke swimming. I know it's slower but just can't get the crawl technique.

[@garyo4456]

Practice good streamline gliding, head down, relaxed kick. (Kick from the knees down...don’t generate the kick from the thighs). After you’re good at streamline gliding.... Practice one arm pulls, one arm pointing where you’re going “always”, one arm doing the pulling. When the two hands tough out front in the glide...time to switch arms! Head position: Down. Always watching where you are, not where you’re going! This helps body position and glide. Swimming’s all about GLIDE!! Breathing: “Never” hold your breath! When the right hand begins its pull, rotate your head without any lifting high enough to grab a quick inhalation, rotate your head back to glide position and begin a paced exhalation until your right hand begins its next pull. You “never” hold your breath in swimming!! Inhale, exhale....relaxed like when you walk on land. If you walked around holding your breath, wouldn’t be long until you passed out! Relax...streamline glide....don’t hurry your breathing, learn to adjust your arm pattern to accommodate your breathing pattern. Don’t be sloppy!! Practice relaxed, graceful technique! And remember: “It’s not a coincidence that the best swimmers have the best technique!” Ask for help. Someone will be happy to help you!! 😜🖖

[@1cor13Godislov]

MySwimPro helped me and agreed w my previous instructor Debbie Meyers gold medalist

[@hedgefundshyster..3241]

I'm an 62 year old ex competitive swimmer...i lap triathletes more than half my age in the pool ....they hate it ..when i explain that I swam a mile in under 18 minutes when i was 15 years old ....47 years ago .....not a great time as the world record at that time was 15 minutes 2 seconds....

[@Justin-uf9lc]

Wow! So humble!

[@persv988]

"High/straight arm is best when packswimming"... then why is every swimmer in the long distance open water series and the olympics having a "high" elbow recovery?

[@pauldeaks1212]

Blimey watch the guy just over your shoulder at 2 min ,he comes over and pulls under his opposite arm ,well over the centre line

[@Cookefan59]

What happened to this great guy? I don’t see him around since 2021

[@danelliott7995]

A bunch of general comments that provides no help.

[@jm6734]

For an onset adult learner - why ever would you first spend months and months on learning a fundamental pool style stroke - for then having to adapt it into a more effective OP style..? It makes no sense. Why not learn how to do what you’re supposed to do from the start.. So much strange advice around Triathlon imo.

[@thenayancat8802]

I'm not an expert but in most disciplines it's advised to learn the optimal way to do something, and then learn to adapt from there. Otherwise you risk training bad habits into your fundamentals that you can never get rid of

[@Chrissummerill]

Because a pool is a controlled environment. It’s difficult to keep it all together when the waves are crashing around you. Learn a functional stroke in the pool. Build your competence and proprioception, then take it to the open water and make the incremental changes there once you’ve got a handle on it. You won’t be wearing a wetsuit in the pool either so there will be a difference with that too.

[@CzPsycho]

3:12 you are welcome

[@jzcrossan]

?

[@arkarmiller70]

Wtf dude?

[@polisebro]

Swim like an open water swimmer, not like a triathlete!!!

[@SSuperCuriouss]

Great vid. Can't believe you're promoting feet tapping.... it's highly annoying for keeping focussed... seriously, 2cm further back won't hurt!!

[@andyb1404]

Where's the "Run Like a Cyclist" video? Probably about as useful as swimming like a triathlete

[@fahdziari6354]

You talk too much!!!

[@user-ib4zp7zy6c]

This is something that I discovered while watching someone first triathlon vid, that guy mentioned that he was kicked, slapped and his goggles got pulled down... So you have to be ready for this.