The World Swimming Coaches Association

Vol 08 Issue 1 CN o n t e n t s ewsletterBritish Swimming Coaches ASCA Awards List Association Awards List Coach of the Year The BSCTA held their 44th 2 Daland Award Winner Annual Awards Dinner (sponsored Media Award Winner by ASA Awards) on Saturday ASCA Hall of Fame 29th September 2007 at the Warwickshire County Cricket Articles on Ground, Edgbaston Birmingham.

Training The list of winners were as 3 By H.G. Lynn follows: BSCTA Life Time Achievement Award Ian Oliver* (City of Newcastle) & Dave BSCTA Coach of the Year Haller** (Cardiff) World Records, A (sponsored by Speedo UK) (* Ian Oliver has placed swimmers on Senior Inter- Fred Vergnoux (City of Edinburgh) in national teams every year for the last two decades; Long History ** Dave Haller has placed swimmers on the Olympic By Nick Thierry & Chaker recognition of the World Championship Teams of various countries at every Olympic Games 10 silver medal won by Kirsty Balfour since 1968) Belhadj

And Sean Kelly (Stockport Metro) in GB Head Coach and current President Principles of Great recognition of Cassandra Patten winning of the BSCTA, was bestowed as a Fellow silver again in Melbourne in the Open of the Association. Relationships water events. 14By Kamal Vinodrai Shah The Awards Dinner was held as part BSCTA Disability Coach of the Year of the 44th BSCTA Annual Confer- Billy Pye (Swansea) & Emma Patrick ence. Guest International Speakers this (Leominster) year were Murray Stephens & Cathy Lears, both of North Baltimore Aquatics BSCTA Coaching Award of Excellence Club. Mr Stephens owns Meadowbrook (sponsored by SwimTec UK) Aquatics & Fitness Centre, the base Dave Haller (Cardiff) of the Club and North Baltimore Swim School. This Centre, the Club and swim BSCTA Youth Coach of the Year school, discovered Michael Phelps. He (sponsored by Blue Water Training was taught to swim by Mrs Lears, and Camps) developed through the programme here Marc Spackman (City of Lincoln Pen- alongside a number of other successful taqua) & Chris Nesbit (British Swimming Olympic & World Gold medallists, such Offshore Camp – TSS, Australia) as Anita Nall. Both speakers discussed and informed the delegates from 7 BSCTA Alan Hime Memorial Award countries on how they developed these Les Green (Middlesborough) programmes and taught and developed the swimmers. n

World Swimming Coaches Association 5101 NW 21st Ave., Suite 200 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309 USA Phone: 1-954-563-4930 or 1-800-356-2722 Fax: 1-954-563-9813 www.swimmingcoach.org/wsca W SC A World Swimming Coaches Association W SC A World Swimming Coaches Association A S C A W o r l d C l i n i c 2 0 0 7 American Swimming Coaches Association Awards List Coach of the Year Bob Bowman Daland Award Winner Don Gambril Media Award Winner Nick Thierry ASCA Hall of Fame Inductees Bud McAllister Bob Bowman Bill Peak Jack Simon Upcoming WSCA Clinics

Intermediate FINA Coaches Clinic Australasian-Oceania Swimming Georgetown, Guyana Professionals Convention and Expo February 17-24, 2008 2008 (Australian Swimming Coaches & Teachers Association and Swimming Swimming Coaches Clinic Australia) Nadi, Fiji - February 27-March 1, 2008 Sofitel, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia Speaker: Leigh Nugent (Australia) April 29-May 6, 2008 FINA Novice Open Water Officials Clinic Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic March 27 - April 4, 2008 2008 ASCA World Clinic Speaker: Tomás Haces Las Vegas, NV, USA Register BSCTA/WSCA Short Course Worlds September 3-7, 2008 Now and Clinic Save! Manchester, England, UK www.swimmingcoach.org April 10-12, 2008

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WSCA Newsletter Vol 08 Issue 1  A r t i cl e s o n T r a i n i n g

About the Author

H.G. Lynn is a coach from South Muscle Structure Africa, who is a veteran swimming coach in that and Function nation. Coach Lynn was the By H.G. LYNN, South Africa primary South African coach for an athlete many ( From ‘Lore of Running’ 4th whereas Type 1 fibres (ST) have a lower will remember... edition- Prof Tim Noakes, MBChB, myosin ATPase activity. MD, DSc, FACSM.) the great However, it now seems that the situation breaststroker, is not quite this simple; the myosin ATPase Penny Heyns, who The subject of muscle structure activity is not simply either fast or slow and set an amazing and muscle function will take there may be varying grades of fastness or number of world more than one letter, as altitude slowness among the Type 1(ST) and Type 2 fibres(FT). records in the training will also come under this 100/200 in 1998- heading. Thus, the Type 1(ST) fibres of some athletes 1999. Coach Lynn may have contraction speeds that approach takes a slightly For those who wish to go further those normally found in Type 2(FT) fibres. different look at into the chemistry of muscle training in these cross-bridge cycling, etc., there In addition, the Type 2 fibres can be are pages (Lore of Running divided into at least five subtypes: series of articles. 2a,2b,2c,2ab and 2ac. The Type 2a fibre We’re pleased he 4th Edition) of very clear is believed to be a Type 2 fibre that is also has passed them explanations and diagrams, adapted for endurance exercise. The Type on to us at this following the muscle’s response 2b fibre conforms to the classical (very time and we’re in sequence from its first impulse fast and powerful) Type 2 (FT). The Type from the brain. 2c fibre is of uncertain origin, and may be pleased to share an uncommitted primitive fibre, capable of them with you. developing into either a Type 2a or a Type In these letters, I shall only 1 fibre. attempt to cover the sections in the book which may be helpful More recently the Type 2c fibre has been to the coach’s understanding of named the Type 2x fibre. In vitro studies the muscle’s functions and the show that Type 2x fibres produce about John Leonard twice as much power (force at speed ) as implications for training. Type 2a fibres, which are about five times more powerful than Type 1 fibres. H.G.L Extracts ( shortened - from correspondence with Prof Noakes) Types of muscle fibres In line with the most modern classifica- The physiological principles from which I tion of muscle fibre types, fibres are begin are: either defined as Red, Type 1, slow- twitch, (ST), OR, White, Type 2, fast- • First, that muscles adapt exactly to the twitch, (FT) fibres. predominant stimulus to which they are exposed. The understanding is that the Type 2 • And second, that technique is specific fibres (FT) contract so rapidly because to the speed at which it is done. This is they have a high myosin ATPase activity, why skills must be practiced at the exact

WSCA Newsletter Vol 08 Issue 1  A r t i cl e s o n T r a i n i n g

speeds at which they will be needed of the muscle fibres. Train the fibres As will be discussed, it seems that the in competition. that will actually be needed in the former method of increasing exercise • I do not believe that energy race at the contraction speeds and intensity may produce more rapid systems(aerobic and anaerobic) can powers that they will need to per- and greater results than the latter, be so easily compartmentalized. form in the race. but at a greater risk of overtrain- Physiologists are trying to design • The only real physiological principle ing…………………………… programmes according to physiolog- that I think is beyond doubt is that ical principles that we do not fully high intensity training is necessary to The first practical point of this re- understand. swim short distances fast. Whenever search is that there is a limit to the • You need to start thinking muscle the training is prolonged – perhaps extent to which the mitochondrial recruitment and strength, not me- more than 60 seconds, the recruit- enzyme can adapt and this limit is tabolism and power systems as the ment pattern is altered and the reached more quickly, with less total basis for training programmes. We training effect is on the development training time, by performing high-in- are then likely to be closer to a real of fatigue resistance – i.e., you can tensity exercise of short duration than understanding of the real changes keep going at a high intensity with by running at much lower intensities with training that determine perfor- only a small fall in performance. for very much longer. mance changes. Indeed all so called anaerobic training may indeed be So the key is to get the correct bal- What practical value can be derived aerobic. ance of both. from this knowledge? Firstly, mito- • My model is that the muscle has to chomdrial adaptations to training only be trained so that its power output Specificity of Training occur in the trained muscle and then is increased so that it can then ac- In studies lasting up to twelve weeks, in muscle fibres that are active during cess more of the energy systems that enzyme concentrations appear to these specific exercises. This indicates are inherently present in the muscle. show a gradual and progressive that when training for a particular Emphasis must be on increasing the increase. At present it seems that the event or sport, an athlete must con- power of the muscle and its fatigue rate and magnitude of these changes centrate on utilizing the correct muscle resistance; the energy is always is a function within limits of the total groups, and, more specifically, the there. The point again is that in my amount of muscle contractile activi- appropriate muscle fibres and the ap- view, the training adaptations that ties. The rate can be increased either propriate metabolic pathways in those are most important are in the fibre by performing more contractions in a fibres. types and the power that they can given time period (increasing exercise produce. intensity) or by maintaining the same This wisdom underlies an important • You are actually adapting the re- frequency of contraction for a longer principle of training, known as the cruitment patterns and the strength period (increasing exercise duration). ‘specificity of training.’ n Specific Training By H.G. LYNN, South Africa

What does ‘being specific to the event • The predominant stimulus for the 100’s, 200’s; any distance where mean?’ Research has shown that: adaptation of the muscles of our the pace (61.5sec) or faster can be • Muscles adapt exactly to the pre- example 400m swimmer to swim at maintained on an interval format. Or dominant stimulus to which they are 61.5sec per100m, has to be at that a choice of distances strung together exposed.(Prof Tim Noakes) pace or faster. ‘Muscles must be and swum at race pace, also on an trained to swim and to use the meta- interval basis. The swimmer will get to We looked at the 400m event in Pac- bolic pathways at the pace you wish know the pace and exactly where he/ ing Form and Talent, so we’ll keep to swim in the race’(Prof Noakes) she is, in relation to the goal chosen. to that. A time of 4:06,0 will be the Maintaining the swimming speed is target. That is an average of 61.5sec- To fulfill the above criteria and to de- more important than the length of the onds per 100m. The swimmer’s time velop the ability to swim the full 400m rest interval. for 100m was say 58.5sec. At that de- at 61.5sec per 100m, the swimmer will gree of effort, mostly carbohydrate/ have to choose a variety of shorter Predominant stimulus does not mean glycogen will fuel the muscles. distances, either as a set of 50’s, 75’s, that all training has to be such, but all

WSCA Newsletter Vol 08 Issue 1  A r t i cl e s o n T r a i n i n g

of the hard work must be so. We have and sprinting during the taper- pe- But, although the risks of over-train- been warned that the risk of over- riod, is used to try to build and regain ing are great in specific training, the training using this concept is great, speed. This too is a bit of a gamble, chances of reaching the goal as cho- and when swimmers are not properly as most coaches have discovered at sen above are also very much greater. monitored, rested and tested, this one time or another. Also, the change And, you will have the confidence and happens. to sprinting makes it easy to over- benefit, from ‘seeing’ your race in the train or injure muscles, as the muscle training pool. n It is also well known that distance fibres are not properly prepared for training reduces the ability of the the fast contraction speeds of sprint muscles to swim fast; the practice of training. reducing work after distance training, Altitude Training By H.G. LYNN, South Africa

(Extracts from ‘Lore of Training at Altitude detect whether the same training is Running’4th Edition- Prof Tim Training at altitude will not definitely performed at sea-level or at altitude. Noakes) insure that the number of red blood cells are increased. Recent studies Authors of another study suggest, that athletes will only benefit from living There are fundamental differences show that living and training at alti- or training at altitude if they fulfill between people living at high altitude tudes of 1800m(5905 ft) for 18 days three criteria: and those living at sea level. Altitude failed to increase red blood cell mass. natives whose VO2 max is almost the Similarly, elite Australian athletes who • Firstly, they must live at an altitude same as residents at sea level, have slept for 8 to 11 hours per night in a sufficiently high to stimulate the pro- substantially higher VO2 max at alti- high-altitude or nitrogen house for 23 duction of eythropoeitin so that the tude. nights at 3000m failed to show any increase in red blood cell production. red blood cell mass increases. • This altitude should not be less than The Sherpa’s superior performance 2500m (8202 ft). at altitude, is not explained by the Failure of altitude exposure to in- • Secondly, they must either have capacity of their leg muscles to use crease the blood cell mass, would then adequate whole body iron stores or oxygen, but would result from: explain why the VO2 max does not must receive adequate amounts of increase with continuing residence at iron so that they can increase their • A higher red blood cell concentra- altitude less than that perhaps 2500m red blood cell mass appropriately tion: (8202 ft). Without an increase in in response to the erythropoeitin • An increased ventilatory function oxygen supply, either at altitude or at production by the kidneys. which would allow more oxygen to sea level, the governor model predicts • Thirdly, they must be able to train at be transferred from the lungs to the that an increase in the maximum vol- the same velocity that they normally blood during exercise at altitude: ume output necessary to raise the VO2 achieve at sea level. This requires • A more extensive network of blood max cannot occur. that they perform their high-intensity vessels in the heart, which is able training at altitudes as close to sea to accommodate a larger coronary Hence it is clear that exposure must level as possible. blood flow: be to altitudes equal or greater than • An increased volume of mitochondria 2500m if there is to be any chance that performance will improve conse- Eyrythropoeitin (EPO) in the heart and : (‘Lore of Running (4th edition) has a great deal • As a result, superior myocardial quent to an increased red blood cell mass. more about erythropoeitin and the legal upper efficiency so that an even larger levels of the haematocrit and haemoglobin al- cardiac output can be achieved at lowed in the blood – which seem to allow for As far as muscles are concerned, a bit of clever cheating – and the new methods these high levels of blood and oxy- of detecting the banned hormone. But as the use gen supply to the heart. training at altitude has no magical effect; muscles respond to the relative of erythropoeitin is illegal, detail will not be of interest) intensity of effort, and are unable to

WSCA Newsletter Vol 08 Issue 1  A r t i cl e s o n T r a i n i n g

As a result of the negative results reduced. This occurs whenever the the room in which athletes rest and derived from studies of training at oxygen content of the blood is re- sleep for between 12 and 16 hours a altitude, alternative options have also duced, for example, during exposure day. The second is a more simple tent been evaluated. These include the use to altitude. that fits over the athlete’s bed, for use of blood cell infusions (Blood doping) when he or she sleeps. The value of or of repeated injections of the hor- Since the early 1990’s, a number of both is that the athlete sleeps at alti- mone erythropoeitin ( both illegal). researchers have been experimenting tude but is able to train at sea-level; with techniques to simulate altitude thus the disadvantage of a reduced Erythropoetin (EPO) is a hormone pro- exposure in those living at sea level. training intensity at high altitude is duced naturally by the kidney which Two techniques have become popular. avoided. In addition, the athletes re- stimulates the production of red blood main in their usual living and training cells by the bone marrow. Erythropoei- The first is a high-altitude (Alpine) or environment. n tin production is stimulated whenever nitrogen house in which a low oxygen, the oxygen supply to the kidney is high nitrogen gas mixture is fed into VO2 max By H.G. LYNN, South Africa

VO2 max at Altitude (From The VO2 max of Reinhold Messner, ar- the skeletal muscles become anaero- ‘Lore of Running’ fourth Edition guably the most remarkable high-al- bic at extreme altitude when the – Prof Noakes) titude climber of all time is only 48.8 oxygen content of inspired air is so ml O2.kg-1.min-1 (milliliters oxygen low that it is barely able to sustain per kilogram per minute), essentially human life. The term VO2 max can be more eas- the same as that of Sir Edmund Hilary, ily understood if it is considered that who in 1953, became one of the first But according to the Cardiovascular/ it is the athlete’s maximum work rate people to reach the summit of Mount Anaerobic Model, the skeletal muscle that predicts athletic performance, Everest. These values are little bet- and the heart must surely become an- rather than his or her VO2 max. This ter than those found in untrained but aerobic under these conditions. maximum work rate is the result of a healthy young men. complex interaction of heart and skel- If the muscles were able to work etal muscle factors, which combine to In fact the key to successful climb- normally, as at sea level, the oxygen establish the measured maximum rate ing at altitude is an ability to sustain content of the blood supplying the of oxygen use by the muscles at that higher than expected oxygen tension (heart and brain) would drop so low peak work rate (VO2 max). But the in the arterial blood supplying both that the normal functioning of the measured peak rate of oxygen con- the heart and brain (and has nothing heart and brain would be impossible, sumption is the result, not the cause, of to do with the capacity of the exercis- inducing unconsciousness. Without the the peak work rate that is achieved. ing muscles to use oxygen) Central Governor, mountaineers would risk death from heart and brain hy- With an increase in altitude, the baro- Exercise at altitude provides the poxia whenever they ascended above metric pressure decreases and with it single best test of the Central Gover- 5000m. Indeed, we can safely predict the oxygen content of the air. The fall nor Model. Crucial findings are:- that if the human had been designed in the oxygen content of the air causes 1) Blood lactate concentrations fall by exercise physiologists according to a predictable fall in the VO2 max progressively at peak exercise with the Cardiovascular/Anaerobic model, equivalent to about 10 per cent for increasing altitude. no human would have survived a climb every 1000m above 1200m. 2) Heart rate and heart output – the above base camp at Mount Everest, But the reason why climbers complain amount of blood pumped by the much less have reached the summit. of weakness in their muscles and an heart, most of which goes to the inability to climb rapidly at extreme muscles being exercised – decreases VO2 max in Runners (this could altitude are not, as discussed sub- at increasing altitude. Most crucial be the same for swimmers) sequently, those that might seem the of all, recruitment of skeletal muscle A group of scientists between 1970 most obvious. also falls during exercise at alti- and 1979 were probably the first tude. Hence, neither the heart nor scientists to suggest that there may be

WSCA Newsletter Vol 08 Issue 1  A r t i cl e s o n T r a i n i n g

differences, in the amount of oxygen sustain for between 5 and 8 minutes. achieve a high work rate during the that athletes require when running at maximum test to exhaustion. the same speed. The authors concluded that a high VO2 max (anything above 67ml The high work rate demands a high In more simple terms, we could com- O2.kg-1min-1) helped each athlete rate of oxygen consumption which is pare two athletes to two different gain membership of an elite perfor- interpreted as a high VO2 max. But cars, one of which uses less fuel than mance group. However, within this the exact VO2 max which each ath- the other when traveling at the same select group, running economy, and not lete achieves (whether in the labora- speed, and is therefore said to be VO2 max was the factor controlling tory or in racing) will be determined more economical. success in the 10 km race. by his or her running economy, and is independent of the peak work rate To avoid confusing the concept of I interpret these data differently. To that is achieved. At the same maxi- running economy, with that of the join the elite group of runners, the mal work rate, uneconomical runners VO2 max, it is important to point out athlete needs both a superior and ef- will have high VO2 max values, and that running economy relates to the ficient heart, which is able to achieve economical runners will have much amount of oxygen used by the athlete a high cardiac output at the maximum lower values. But the real predictor of when running at a constant (submaxi- coronary blood flow, but also muscles performance is the work rate (running mal) speed, whereas VO2 max refers with superior contractility, elasticity speed) not the VO2 max measured at to the rate of oxygen used by that and fatigue resistance. A combination that work rate. n individual athlete when running at the of superior heart and skeletal muscle maximal speed that that athlete can function then allows the athlete to What’s New? By H.G. LYNN, South Africa

1. Preamble me: And it is my intention in following • This model holds that high-intensity Over the past years, exercise scientists articles to try to share this information exercise is ultimately limited by the have made great strides in under- with coaches who have not studied development of anaerobic condition standing exactly how the human body the book and who are interested in in the active muscles. This absence responds and adapts to physical ex- hearing more about it, possibly before of oxygen results from the heart’s ercise. New science and methods have purchasing it. inability to increase its output above enabled them to reveal the shortcom- some limiting maximum value. As ings of many of the accepted theories As with most scientific literature, Prof a result, oxygen delivery is to the and dogma of past decades Noakes uses references indicating active muscles ‘plateaus’, forcing the names of the scientist or scientists the muscles to rely on anaerobic Professor Tim Noakes MBChB, MD, whose confirmed work contributed to metabolism for their energy supply. DSc, FACSM. Head of the Bioener- the achieved level of knowledge of The by-products of this anaerobic getics of Exercise Research Unit of the subject being discussed. If I had metabolism eventually accumulate in the Medical Research Council and the to repeat this procedure, it would be the muscle, causing exhaustion. University of Cape Town has kindly very taxing as there are some 72 given me permission to quote exten- pages of references in fine print. So • The model was proposed by H.V.Hill sively from his latest book “LORE of when I print the conclusions, there may more than 75 years ago. But scien- RUNNING” (fourth edition). have been a number of contributing tists have been less than enthusiastic scientists. to acknowledge that Hill understood Don’t believe that the book is all the fatal flaw of any model which about running as it has a tremendous 2. The Cardiovascular / predicts that the heart must fatigue amount of information on every aspect Anaerobic Model of Exercise before the exercising muscles. of physical exercise. I shall be quoting Physiology a variety of subjects from the book (Although Hill thought his theory was which I found extremely informative (What we have believed so far, consid- valid, he also believed that there was about most things that were new to erably shortened) some sort of ‘governor’ involved during

WSCA Newsletter Vol 08 Issue 1  A r t i cl e s o n T r a i n i n g stressful exercise but could not clearly limited by the maximum capacity of exercise as well – identify what was happening in the the coronary blood flow to supply body. Thus Prof Noakes recognizes his oxygen to the heart, and regulated to reasons unknown – and contribution.) prevent heart damage during maximal exercise. this also causes the 3. (The Hill, Noakes) Central Governor Model (Integrated (The above was taken directly from the fatigue of prolonged Neuromuscular Recruitment book but I think that a passage from Model Of Exercise Physiology correspondence with Prof Noakes some exercise.” and Athletic Performance) years ago, may be easier to under- considerably shortened stand)

• This new model of maximum ex- • “The muscle’s function is regulated • “As another issue- I am beginning to ercise performance holds that the by both the brain and its own func- think that fatigue is perceived in the heart is the organ at greatest risk tion to insure that anaerobiosis does brain and is a ‘learned response’- of developing an oxygen deficiency not develop. If you reduce the blood That is, we programme ourselves during stressful conditions – espe- supply to the muscle, it reduces its to fatigue at a certain time during cially vigorous exercise at extreme mechanical performance in propor- exercise. That is another reason why altitude. Thus a mechanism must ex- tion to the drop in oxygen supply so high-speed training is so important ist to restrain the over-vigorous use that the work done is covered by the – trains the brain as much as any- of the exercising muscles that would available oxygen – hence anaero- thing else. imperil the heart. biosis does not develop. In addition, for the muscle to become anaerobic Throughout the book, proof of the va- • The model proposes the existence of requires that the heart first become lidity of The Central Governor Model a governor which monitors the state anaerobic. We know that this does is clearly demonstrated in all physical of oxygenation of the heart and not happen so ipso facto, the other exercise under many differing cir- perhaps the (brain, diaphragm) and cannot happen either. Prevention cumstances and cannot be faulted. others as well. of the heart becoming anaerobic Probably the best single proof is in comes from a reflex arriving from the physiology of high altitude climb- When the oxygenation approaches the the brain.” ers and we can look at some of these limits of what is safe, the brain motor proofs in future letters under the fol- cortex, which recruits the exercising lowing questions: muscles, is informed and it stops re- cruiting muscles. • How can blood lactate levels fall …“The old idea that progressively at peak exercise with As a result: increasing altitude, to the point muscles stop working where the oxygen level in the air • Fatigue: Like pain, fatigue is always barely supports life? sensed exclusively by the brain, because of acidosis even though it appears to be coming • The VO2max of Reinhold Messner, from elsewhere, for example in the and so on is not arguably the most remarkable high- muscles (exhaustion and discomfort) altitude climber of all time, is only or on the skin (pain). supported by any firm 48.8ml O2, kg –.1min, essentially the same as Sir Edmund Hillary. The • The work output of the muscles and evidence – it is just values are little better than those the heart falls. accepted dogma. We found in untrained but healthy young men. This leads to a reduction in the oxygen are also finding that demand of the heart, thereby protect- • How is VO2Max explained? ing the more delicate heart from dam- the brain reduces its age caused by oxygen starvation. • Lactate may be one of the most muscle recruitment important fuels of the body. What is Thus, this model predicts that maximum lactate? n exercise capacity is a process, co-or- progressively during dinated subconsciously by the brain,

WSCA Newsletter Vol 08 Issue 1  WSCA Newsletter Vol 08 Issue 1  World Records, A Long History By Nick Thierry & Chaker Belhadj From the first FINA Press Commission Members recognition in 1908, the new rules in FINA was founded Olympic silver in 1936 at age 15, and 1957 and the short three golds at the 1938 Europeans, but course times in the in London 1908 and World War II prevented her winning in 90s 1940. She competed in 1948, placing fifth World records were first in the 400 m free. ratified in that year. The The first cutting back of record distances was in 1948 when the little raced 300 list of recognized events yards, 300m, 1000 yards, 1000m free- style, 400 m backstroke, and 400 and 500 reached 105 by the m breaststrokes were dropped. In 1952 the 500 yards and 500 m freestyle, 150 yard early 1950s. backstroke and the 3x100 medley relay was dropped. It was in 1953 when the but- In 1908, world records under 800 m terfly was added as the fourth stroke. could be set in pools of any length over 25 yards and it was possible for records At the FINA Congress in 1952, the USA and to be set mid-course, not just at the end Japan proposed to keep separate records of the pool. This resulted in all major for long course (50 m) and short course (25 world records for most of the Olympic m), but the Congress opposed this 56 - 32 events to be set in short course pools and it would take another four years for and was in effect until 1956. FINA to clarify the situation, eliminating all short course records. Danish swimmer Ragnhild Hveger took advantage of this situation bettering Four record swims in one afternoon 42 world records from 100 yards, 100 When breaststroke was added to the m, 200 m, 220 y, 300 y, 300 m, 400 Olympic program in 1956, the first win- m, 440 y, 500 y. 500 m, 880 y, 1000 ner Masaru Furukawa (JPN) swam the 200 y, 1000 m, 1760 y, 200 m and 400 m metres mostly underwater. Furukawa was back, between 1936-42. She won an dominant in the stroke from 1954-56. The

CURIOSITIES ABOUT WORLD RECORDS (50m-POOL), 1957-2007

City with most WR: Los Angeles (USA), with 75 Year with most WR: 1976, with 61 Year with least WR: 1993, with 1 Years with no WR amongst women: 1990, 1993 and 1995 Event with most WR (men): 100m breaststroke, with 50 Event with most WR (women): 200m breaststroke, with 43 Oldest WR in the charts: Janet Evans (USA), 8:16.22 in the women’s 800 freestyle, established August 20, 1989 in Tokyo (JPN).

WSCA Newsletter Vol 08 Issue 1 10 W o r l d R e c o r d s , A l o n g h i s t o r y

rules for the new strokes allowed alents at 110, 220, 440, 1650 underwater swimming and quickly yards in 55 yard pools. it was discovered to be much faster BREAKDOWN OF than swimming on the surface. He During the 1968 Olympics, the broke the 200 m world record FINA Congress dropped all records WORLD RECORDS twice on 10 April 1954. But even for yard distances, but recognized more remarkable was 1 October record equalling performances. (50m-POOL) BY YEAR 1955 when he broke all four world records on the same afternoon. (1957-2007) Furukawa set the marks for 200 m and 220 yards (2:31.0 and 2:31.9) In 1969, 31 events in YEAR MEN WOMEN TOTAL by taking his first breath at the 25 1957 10 7 17 m turn, breathing again before the 50 m pool became the 1958 19 22 41 1959 13 12 25 second turn and taking only three 1960 19 24 43 breaths on each of his six other eligible world record 1961 23 9 32 laps. Later he swam 100 yards and 1962 16 16 32 100 m in 1:01.4 and 1:08.2 taking events (16 for men 1963 14 8 22 five breaths during the whole race. 1964 23 28 51 and 15 for women). 1965 1 9 10 He posted a long course record in 1966 8 11 19 1967 31 27 58 August 1955 when he swam 2:33.7. On 21 Aug 1972 records timed to 1968 22 20 42 It took six years for Chet Jastremski 1969 14 3 17 (USA) swimming on the surface to 1/100th of a second were ac- cepted. 1970 18 8 26 better this time by a tenth. 1971 13 15 28 1972 31 22 53 After Furukawa’s Olympic win in At the time of FINA’s 50th anni- 1973 11 21 32 1956, FINA put an end to underwa- versary, Ladislav Hauptman (CZE) 1974 12 34 46 1975 16 13 29 ter breaststroke and to his domina- reported in his Golden Book of FINA, that in the first 50 years 1976 29 32 61 tion. 1977 4 8 12 FINA ratified 1059 world records, 581 for men and 478 for women. 1978 8 23 31 Herbert Klein (GER) was the world 1979 5 9 14 record holder in the 200 breast- The 1000th record was on 7 July 1980 7 17 24 stroke (2:27.3). Like all the top 1957 in the men’s 100 m butterfly 1981 4 6 10 swimmers of his day, he swam with by Takashi Ishimoto (JPN). 1982 11 3 14 1983 15 3 18 a butterfly arm movement and a Rule changes 1984 19 5 24 breaststroke kick. His record was During the next five decades, 1985 8 1 9 from 1951 in a 25 m pool. In Hel- 1986 5 9 14 rule changes, mostly designed to sinki at the 1952 Olympics he was 1987 5 6 11 in the lead for most of the 200 m simplify judging, resulted in faster 1988 17 7 24 distance but finished in third. When times. After 1964 no hand touch 1989 7 0 7 the breaststroke became a sepa- was required in freestyle turns, 1990 5 0 5 for most of the next five decades 1991 14 2 16 rate stroke in 1953, Klein opted 1992 9 7 16 for the breaststroke and was one breaststroke rules were undergoing subtle changes with the most recent 1993 1 0 1 of the best. At the 1956 Melbourne 1994 6 8 14 rule change allowing a downward Olympics, Klein won his heat only to 1995 3 0 3 be disqualified, ending his career. dolphin kick after starts and turns. 1996 3 2 5 According to one official Klein was The backstroke turn was changed in 1997 1 2 3 disqualified for a “scissor” kick, 1991, allowing a modified free- 1998 1 1 2 style-like turn. 1999 10 14 24 but another official claimed he had 2000 16 17 33 been dipping his right shoulder. Short course (25 m) records were 2001 16 1 17 He was one of five breaststrokers 2002 6 6 12 reintroduced effective 3 March disqualified in a field of 21. 2003 16 2 18 1991, and after 31 October 1994, 2004 10 7 17 The traditional English linear dis- the stroke 50s for back, breast, 2005 6 5 11 and fly were recognized for short 2006 7 12 19 tances (100, 200, 400 yards and 2007 8 10 18 mile) went out on 1 May 1957, be- and long course. ing replaced by long course equiv- TOTAL 596 534 1130

WSCA Newsletter Vol 08 Issue 1 11 W o r l d R e c o r d s , A l o n g h i s t o r y

During the long course era, the most records by a WORLD RECORDS SET AT FINA WORLD single swimmer was 26 by CHAMPIONSHIPS Mark Spitz (USA) during Year Venue Men Women Total 1967-72, over 100, 200, 1973 Belgrade, YUG 8 10 18 1975 Cali, COL 1 4 5 400 free, 100, and 200 1978 West Berlin, FRG 4 10 14 1982 Guayaquil, ECU 4 3 8 fly. 1986 Madrid, ESP - 6 6 1991 Perth, AUS 7 - 7 1994 Rome, ITA 3 7 10 Michael Phelps (USA) has 20 record swims 1998 Perth, AUS - - - since 2001, and should eventually pass 2001 Fukuoka, JPN 8 - 8 Spitz. 2003 Barcelona, ESP 12 2 14 2005 Montreal, CAN 5 4 9 Kurt Krumpholz broke the world record in 2007 Melbourne, AUS 7 8 15 the 400 freestyle at the 1972 US Olym- pic trials with a 4:00.11 in the prelims. He Total 59 54 113 finished fifth in the final, missing selection. The record survived the Olympics and Rick DeMont became the first under four minutes WORLD RECORDS SET AT FINA WORLD when he won the 400 free at the 1973 Belgrade FINA Worlds in 3:58.18. SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS (25M)

The longest-held current record is Krisztina Egerszegi (HUN) 200 backstroke time of Year Venue Men Women Total 2:06.62 from 1991. An even older record 1993 Palma, ESP 2 12 14 in the women’s 1500 free that lasted 19 1995 Rio, BRA - 4 4 years was bettered (pending FINA ap- 1997 Goteborg, SWE 2 6 8 proval) on 17 June 2007 by Kate Ziegler 1999 Hong Kong, HKG 3 5 8 (USA). 2000 Athens, GRE 11 4 15 2002 Moscow, RUS 2 5 7 The youngest record setter was 12-year- 2004 Indianapolis, USA 3 1 4 old Karen Muir (RSA) in 1965 when she 2006 Shanghai, CHN 3 2 5 swam 1:08.7 for 110 yards backstroke on 1 Aug, in a morning heat swim in Black- Total 26 39 65 pool.

The oldest record setter is Alexander Pop- WORLD RECORDS 1957-2007 (50m- ov (RUS), when at age 29 he swam 21.64 for the 50 freestyle in 2000. POOL) BY DISCIPLINE

DISCIPLINE MEN WOMEN TOTAL TOP-5 COUNTRIES WITH Freestyle 188 162 350 50m WORLD RECORDS Backstroke 74 86 160 COUNTRY MEN WOMEN TOTAL Breaststroke 85 89 174 USA 331 188 519 Butterfly 88 80 168 GDR 26 136 162 Individual Medley 75 53 128 AUS 85 68 153 Relays 86 64 150 URS 33 16 49 NED 3 34 37 TOTAL 596 534 1130

WSCA Newsletter Vol 08 Issue 1 12 W o r l d R e c o r d s , A l o n g h i s t o r y

The shortest record: men’s 100 fly semis (25 July) in Barcelona at the 2003 FINA WORLD RECORDS SET AT OLYMPIC World Championships - Andriy Serdinov, UKR, won the first semi in 51.76, then GAMES Phelps did 51.47 in the second semi. Both bettered the existing record of 52.10. In the final (26 July), the record was lowered Year Venue Men Women Total to 50.98 by Ian Crocker (USA). Thus all 1960 Rome, ITA 4 4 8 three medallists bettered the world mark 1964 Tokyo, JPN 9 3 12 during the two days of the event. 1968 Mexico City, MEX 3 2 5 1972 Munich, FRG 14 13 27 1976 Montreal, CAN 18 11 29 1980 Moscow, URS 1 7 8 Since 1957 there have 1984 Los Angeles, USA 11 - 11 1988 Seoul, KOR 9 2 11 been 1130 long course 1992 Barcelona, ESP 6 4 10 1996 Atlanta, USA 3 1 4 records ratified, 596 for 2000 Sydney, AUS 8 6 14 men and 534 for women. 2004 Athens, GRE 4 4 8 The year with the most Total 90 57 147 records was 1976 with 29 men’s and 32 women’s for TOP-3 WORLD RECORD HOLDERS a total of 61. (individual events in 50m-pool)

Men Since the return of short 1 Mark Spitz (USA) 26 Records (1967-1972) 2 Michael Phelps (USA) 20 Records (2001-2007) course, in 1991, 275 3 Roland Matthes (GDR) 18 Records (1967-1972) records have been ratified Women 1 Kornelia Ender (GDR) 23 Records (1973-1976) (152 men’s and 123 2 Debbie Meyer (USA) 15 Records (1967-1970)

n 3 Dawn Fraser (AUS) 11 Records (1958-1964) women’s). 3 Penny Heyns (RSA) 11 Records (1996-1999) 3 Inge De Bruijn (NED) 11 Records (2000) 3 Ulrike Richter (GDR) 11 Records (1973-1976) 3 Shane Gould (AUS) 11 Records (1971-1972)

References:

Encyclopedia of Swimming, Pat Besford, Robert Hale & Company, London, second edition 1976, 302 pages.

Histoire de la Natation mondiale et francaise, Francois Oppenheim, Chiron-Sports, 1977, 359 pages.

Let’s go back to Helsinki, George Duchesne, Swimming World, December 1952

WSCA Newsletter Vol 08 Issue 1 13 Principles of Great Relationships

By Kamal Vinodrai Shah

All of us in life are part of a system human being to connect with people. Never miss an opportunity to cel- where we interact with people on a The more you practice smiling the ebrate and elevate another person, continuous basis. When reading biog- better you have the chance of en- whether at work or at home. You’ll raphies of successful people such as riching your life. Nothing wonderful connect with the best within them Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, comes without practice. and motivate them to strive to op- Martin Luther King and others, you will timize their potential. Always leave always read that the reason they were 3. Get to know people’s names: This people better then you found them. or are successful is because they have is fundamental to having great perfected the art of nurturing good relationships. Each of us wants to 7. Treat everyone (EVERYONE) like roy- relationships with people from all be identified and the best way is alty. It is interesting when someone’s facets of life. If you analyse your life to call people by their names. Each really nice to his or her friend but you will realise that each and every and every one of us wants to be ac- rude to a waiter – no consistency day your time is in the company of cepted and when you call someone there. Behave as if you’ll never see colleagues, family members, household by his or her name it shows respect them again. We all have our own help, etc. Therefore it is important that as well as the importance of the prejudices against each other but you understand these people around person. Of course it is not easy to we should see beyond that. As the you, relate to them, work with them, remember each person you meet for slogan in leadership goes, “Leader- share with them, advise them, get as- the first time and to know his or her ship is not about title.” sistance from them and connect with name automatically but ensure that them so that you are able to grow as you make the effort. In order to ensure that you are able a human being. Each and every one to apply the principles written above, of us has got something to teach each 4. When talking to people look them start slowly by making improvements other. in the eye: Remember, that when on a constant basis with the people you talk to someone and you look at whom you are frequently around. The For anyone to be successful in their them directly that shows confidence more you practice the better you shall professional and personal life there and respect. Additionally, it shows become at whatever that you are are some fundamentals you can use to that you are open and transparent pursuing and after sometime it will ensure that you can create and nurture about what you are feeling. Non- come naturally. To achieve anything in great relationships. Here are some verbal gestures count more than life you have to sacrifice something to tips you can use: 55% of communication that you por- achieve something. n tray in terms of your relationships. 1. Be the first to say hello (namaste, jambo, etc.): Why? When you are 5. Become a world-class listener: Most kind and open you automatically people don’t listen. They are so “Keep away from small make the other person feel comfort- self-focused on their own challenges able. People are scared of rejection in life and also on their self-gain people who try to and therefore it is important that that they fail to ask good questions you get rid of that fear by con- when they meet another person. belittle your ambitions. fronting it. Once you get rid of that Listening and asking questions shows fear you will make the other per- humility. Furthermore, it shows you Small people always son feel more comfortable around are interested and willing to assist you. Furthermore, the moment you the other person if there is a need. do that, but the really are in control of facing the fear of Additionally, it demonstrates that rejection, the journey becomes more you are engaged – and not in love great make you feel rewarding since each and every with yourself and selfish. Remember, that you too can experience adds value to your life. to speak once the other person has finished opening up to you. become great.” 2. Smile: The moment you smile you make a connection. Smiling sincerely 6. Offer compliments: It does not cost - Mark Twain makes you more friendly, makes you anything to praise someone. It helps feel contented inside and addition- you to gain trust as well as make ally, makes it easier for you as a the other person feel more relaxed.

WSCA Newsletter Vol 08 Issue 1 14