Coaches Corner: Why are swimmers today able to perform consistently faster all year round?

In the past, swimmers only achieved fast times once or twice a year. Today, we see consistently fast performances across the entire competition calendar. Why? In this Coaches Corner, several coaches discuss the new phenomenon.

DAVID MARSH, CAL

I think that increasing the number of elite competitions throughout the year is a natural evolution in our sport, as we learn from the experiences of other sports and recognise that the swimmers we work with are actually more often capable of swimming at a very high level.

Photo courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Coaches know that psychological and consistent emotional engagement of athletes is often the primary factor for maximum progress in our highly measurable sport. Many of us coaches have found that more frequent targeted competitions meet physiological, motivational and even familial considerations. Here are some reasons and benefits of more frequent elite competitions:

• We professional coaches have much more access to information and data in many sports and know that training cycles are complex and that the results of a given cycle depend on several factors, including growth, recovery, and technical and tactical improvements.

Adjustments that result in improvement are so individualized that it is helpful to conduct peak meetings more frequently to determine how to help the athlete take the next steps to progress.

• We train swimmers more than athletes, and advances in combining dryland training with other equipment and technology give athletes more opportunities to improve than just more laps in the pool. From the Speedo Shark Skin to today, any swimmer can squeeze into a technical suit on any given day and instantly feel at their best.

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As with most things that help push human potential to the limit, there is a pendulum that swings from adequate training to outright extreme training. Fortunately, most coaches and programs understand that extreme commitment is not measured solely by the number of rounds, but by the commitment to the overall process through training, recovery, stress management, and hopefully a certain level of personal care and balance.

CHRIS PLUMB, CARMEL SWIM CLUB & CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL

• Reduced volume, increased quality: Historically, swimmers had to complete grueling, high-volume training schedules. However, modern training methods focus more on quality than quantity. By reducing overall volume but increasing the intensity and specificity of workouts, athletes can avoid overtraining and still maximize their performance potential.
• Consistent high-intensity training:Athletes today are incorporating more consistent, high-intensity speed training into their training routines. This not only helps develop competition-specific skills and conditioning, but also enables swimmers to perform at their best year-round. Regular intervals of high-intensity training stimulate physiological adaptations necessary for sustained fast swimming.
• Focus on strength and conditioning:The integration of strength and conditioning programs has become a cornerstone of modern swim training. Swimmers today spend more time in the weight room, focusing on exercises that improve power, strength and overall athleticism. Improved muscle strength and resilience contribute to better technique, reduced risk of injury and increased efficiency in the water.

ABBY BRETHAUER, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

Photo courtesy: Princeton Athletics

I think we’ve moved away from overtraining with just a lot of distances and have become more specific in our weekly training cycles. I also feel like all the athletes believe they can be great more than once per season, so they’re mentally able to approach competitions with a focus that allows them to have breakthrough swims at different points during the season.

MIKE DEBOOR, LAKESIDE SWIM CLUB

• I think athletes put in the performance needed to be successful, so if they need to swim faster to get to the finals or to get a PB, they will find a way – especially the elite athletes. Yes, some will fall behind, but if they want to get on a junior team, etc., they will be up to the challenge.
• I think the training doesn’t take that long and either it’s because of the time constraints in the pool or the training that the kids swim fast and the progress comes in smaller portions rather than one big jump at the main competitions.
• I think the training is much higher quality and less focused on just achieving volume. Also, they have to compete, so they have to be fast more often. The days of just competing in a meet to swim are over. The meets are more important and most people dress more and are more prepared for the meet.
• We’ve always been more focused on the fast end, and 30 years ago I was told “not enough volume,” and now we’re pretty normal… and people even say we go too hard. I think our volume is too low, and we suffer in some ways from too much “fast,” but “fast” is fun and challenging. It’s hard to move away from what you’ve done – I’m still looking for the right mix, just like everyone else.
• Competitions became a priority during COVID, so they are more important for this generation. They grew up not knowing if they would have another competition and competed in fewer swim meets.
• We are all better off, we are more aware of the importance of each energy system and we probably achieve this balance more often.

Overall, I still believe that we have more better athletes, more better coaches or teams, and that swimmers will do whatever it takes to be successful, so they learn to swim at a high level to (achieve that goal).

ADAM MADARASSY, EAGLE AQUATICS

I think what has changed is the attitude towards it and the training routine. People have realised it is possible, so they have started to design the training accordingly – and the resources have improved… such as better knowledge and different options for recovery methods.