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Ask an Olympian about Breaststroke

Posted by Glenn Mills on May 24, 2011 10:30AM (6,230 views)

This week (or next), I'll be speaking to an Olympic breaststroker, and I want to know what you'd like to know.

If you've ever wanted to ask an Olympian something about how they swim, or prepare for a race, or train, or stay motivated... or even what they eat... now is your chance.

While we finish prepping a new video featuring 1992 Olympic Breaststroker Roque Santos, you'll have a chance to have him answer you directly on video. All you have to do is post your question below, and we'll get Roque to answer.

Just to let you know, we already have a number of questions from the app, so post soon before we run out of time for Roque to answer.

Here's a snippet of something I grabbed while I spent some time with him. Enjoy, and post.

Roque is also very active in masters swimming, and has 176 USMS Top Ten Rankings, plus has set many masters World Records.

breaststroke, Roque Santos, Olympics, training

Responses

Sharanya	Responded May 24, 2011 04:09PM Hi! i'm a breaststroker too, and i wanted to know...what do you do when you get really, really tired during practices? or during a race, like the 200m, how do you do your turns well and stay underwater when you're already breathless? and what are the best practice sets to go faster for the 50m and the 200m? Thanks!!
black&blue	Responded May 24, 2011 04:40PM Need tips on working fluidity through the complete breaststroke underwater pull down off the start and walls. I have a swimmer who loses all momentum forward in the second part of the pull down where he kicks and stretches "up" into the breakout stroke.. any tips to work on improving that would be awesome!
Roque	Responded May 24, 2011 05:47PM Sharanya, Training...You have to practice like the race. If you tend to get tired in workout, it will also happen in the race. So, mentally you force yourself to push through the pain in work out. Do this often and the races WILL be easier. As for the turn, they all should be fast! Again, practice this in your training!!
Roque	Responded May 24, 2011 06:18PM black&blue, 1) Head position....." you don't need to see where you are going, you need to know where you are going." So, during the pull-outs, I have swimmers close there eyes. One of the biggest misstakes swimmers make is they look to the surface to "see" where they are going. 2) Also, look at how your swimmer brings his/her hands up to the stream line position. Is the hands and arms close to the body? Or are the arms and hands causing unwanted resistance? 3) No L's... Look to see if the swimmer is bringing up the knees to the chest... Look for more on this point in up coming video clips.. Thanks for the question!
wonderboy	Responded May 25, 2011 05:10AM I want to know how much this dude partied back in the day. I seem to remember some epic stories, but perhaps I'm thinking of Ed Moses, or someone else. Either way, best name in swimming, hands down.
GW	Responded May 25, 2011 10:16AM Do you have any specific drills for speeding up the gymnastic part of the turn on Breaststroke (ie getting from hands on the wall to feet on the wall as quickly as possible)?
silvosulej	Responded May 29, 2011 06:35PM Do you have any tips on how to perform a nice stroke while swimming the breaststroke? I have a problem staying in the semi-streamlined position I'm supposed to be in after each pull.
Cynthia Leonard	Responded May 31, 2011 01:55PM Have you tried those dryland breaststroke cords (with the crisscrossing cords) that are in all the popular catalogues and if so , what is your opinion of them? Also I'd like to know what are all the dryland exercises you think help breaststroke most? Thank you!!
William	Responded May 31, 2011 02:55PM Do you have any tips on controlling your breathing so that you are not running out of oxygen off of the turns?
swimfast15	Responded May 31, 2011 09:11PM Do you have any drill for the timing? I have some where their timing is really off!
Peter Bick	Responded Jun 03, 2011 01:17AM Can Brendan Hansen come back and make the 2012 Olympic Team? If so, can he beat Kitajima?
Roque	Responded Jun 03, 2011 01:49PM The truth is the breaststroke events are wide open! Both of these guys are great champions! Yes, Brendan can make the USA team in 2012. And I love it that he is taking on the challenge. Brendan is also a first class person, so I will be cheering for him! It is interesting to me that Kitajima has been training at USC. Dave Salo is obviously one of the best coaches in the world and he has a lot of great training partners. But, to me a lot of swimmers have been beating Kitajima and yes, I think Brendan can be one of them at next summers Olympics.
Juliette	Responded Jun 10, 2011 04:13PM What is the best wide pull or how wide is more effective???....me as an non breaststroker see al lot of similaritys with the Fly pull

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Ask an Olympian about Breaststroke

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