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Swimming Pic of the Week - Margaret Hoelzer - Win a Subscription!

Posted by Glenn Mills on Mar 22, 2012 10:31AM (5,331 views)

Short and sweet. This is going to be a regular feature on goswim.tv. Interact, and you'll have a chance to win a free month's subscription to goswimtv.com. Our new subscription site contains 1,000+ videos featuring some of the greatest swimmers ever.

The rules are simple... get involved. Over the next week, someone who posts on this page will win. Of course there are rules, but the first rule is simple... post what the picture below means to you. It's one of our favorite people, and a great swimmer, Margaret Hoelzer. She continues to be an inspiration to us even in retirement, but as a swimmer... amazing!

Here's the picture, and don't forget to post. Your comments may mean more than just showing how much you know about swimming.

Click image to view larger.

• Preview Margaret's video here.
• For current subscribers, click to see Margaret's video here.
• For fans, follow Margaret on Twitter.

The Rules: You need to be a member of goswim.tv to be able to post, which is free. If you're already a subscriber to goswimtv.com, you will be refunded for the amount equal to 1 month of your subscription. You can win only once per year. You will be required to set up an account with www.goswimtv.com, which requires a credit card number, but you will be instructed how to create the account so that nothing will be charged to your card upon creation of your account. This prize has no monetary value and can not be exchanged or used for any product other than the subscription at www.goswimtv.com. The winner must be over 18 years of age, or must have a parent's permission (in writing to us) to accept this prize.

backstroke, head position, recovery, Margaret Hoelzer

Responses

Hank Webb	Responded Mar 22, 2012 03:36PM Head position, head position, head position! Shoulders "squared", nice rotation into the pull. Even though it is out of frame you can tell she doesn't over-reach.
Barbara Hummel	Responded Mar 22, 2012 03:40PM What strikes me is how relaxed are her face, mouth, and jaw, even though it appears she is moving at a pretty good speed. My guess is that she actually has a pattern of inhale/exhale for her backstroke.
GW	Responded Mar 22, 2012 04:38PM Relaxation , rotation and power
Reemi Wentzel	Responded Mar 22, 2012 09:50PM It's interesting to see that her mouth is closed, is she breathing mostly through her nose during training or racing?..
Glenn Mills	Responded Mar 22, 2012 09:58PM It could just be that I picked that frame specifically to make people wonder what the heck was going on. ;)
JZ	Responded Mar 22, 2012 11:06PM Chin towards the shoulder of the arm which is above the water.
Sheila	Responded Mar 22, 2012 11:54PM Funny...I wrote the following before I looked at the other comments/responses...seems like many of us are picking up on the same things: "To me it looks like she is just relaxing into her backstroke and doing a solid swim. Right shoulder dropped nice and low for a good rotation and catch. Left shoulder up high as her left are recovers. I especially like her head position and how the water is just flowing around her head. Not that I especially know anything about swimming backstroke. Mine has been terrible, but it's getting better lately. I really enjoy that stroke. Anyhow, I just like how it looks (to me) like she is enjoying a good, solid backstroke swim. Makes me want to go out and do the same. And hopefully get better at it."
Sheila	Responded Mar 22, 2012 11:55PM left arm. not "left are". doh.
qotaeba abbasi	Responded Mar 23, 2012 05:45AM YOU HAVE TO SHOW YOUR SHOULDER
Hatem	Responded Mar 23, 2012 03:48PM Hey can we talk in Facebook My name is Hatem Adem Adam I m swimming coach from tunsia and I like talking about it
sprinter	Responded Mar 25, 2012 08:30AM Is this the first stroke after the break out? Is she breathing every second stroke? Or she's breathing early?!
James Stuart	Responded Mar 25, 2012 11:27PM She looks so relaxed and calm. Her rotation looks indeed. Wondering why she retire so early? Thought that she should carry on....
James Stuart	Responded Mar 25, 2012 11:28PM *looks good I mean
Chris	Responded Mar 26, 2012 02:20PM I first notice head position and shoulder kiss. For my younger swimmers I put quarters on their foreheads in an effort to keep their heads still while they do backstroke. On the older ones I put cups that are half filled with water. They tend to swim slower at first but eventually get up to speed. She really is good!
WY coach	Responded Mar 26, 2012 03:56PM She looks very composed, calm, her head position is in line with her body, reaching up out of her left shoulder toward the ceiling, rotation around her long axis without throwing anything out of whack. So many of my swimmers arch, or over reach, or grimace with their faces because they're almost trying too hard. Love this photo.
Mighty Marlin	Responded Mar 27, 2012 12:05AM Relaxed concentration - it's the "secret" of speed!
Juliette	Responded Mar 27, 2012 12:30PM Such an inspiration for us.....also her concentration is an important item to learn from.....(as says also the Dad)
Hank Webb	Responded Mar 27, 2012 02:31PM I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if her right foot isn't at the top of her kick, frothing the surface.
Don	Responded Mar 27, 2012 06:56PM I am not much a backstroke swimmer, so do not see the nuances that some mention. I do notice google strap under the cap so she does not lose her goggles on the push offs. And that she uses blue goggles, which impart a light airy feeling to the pool. Both below and above the waterline. Inspiring Pic.
luvsahorsetoo	Responded Mar 27, 2012 07:18PM This is exactly what I am working on in my backstroke. Her head position is awesome and very relaxed yet concentrated along with a solid stroke. I have always done my best learning by watching others. This is great photo for me use to visualize the correct way. I like another person's idea of putting a quarter on your forehead to keep your head in the correct place.
hettingk	Responded Mar 27, 2012 07:35PM What a great picture, perfect form.
camy	Responded Mar 27, 2012 08:15PM Head still, still relaxed while swimming fast (according to how water looks in the picture), body roll and high shoulder. What else ?
Peggy Stringer	Responded Mar 27, 2012 08:22PM Relaxed, smoth, great pull! She does an FAB backstroke! Go Margaret
Cokie Lepinski	Responded Mar 27, 2012 08:52PM Head position is the first thing that caught my eye. Perfect lock of the head, eyes up! I also agree that she looks relaxed in her face and jaw. She is riding so nicely in and on the water.
dodie	Responded Mar 27, 2012 09:05PM So relaxed, no wonder she's a champion
Cam	Responded Mar 27, 2012 09:33PM She could actually be napping, there's no (visible) tension in her face or her neck... must be morning practice!
Belinda Beard	Responded Mar 27, 2012 11:05PM I got to see Margaret from a distance at my niece's wedding. She was so vivacious! It is so cool to see her at the top of her game with such a cool picture.
Jill B	Responded Mar 27, 2012 11:07PM something to aim for! I'd love to do more backstroke but am just so slow so this will be my project for next winter, after an English Channel relay in September.
lyn morris	Responded Mar 28, 2012 12:19AM Margret has such an awesome form when she swims backstroke. She is defiantly like the veggie dog on the skewer. In her video she does a great job of explaining how and when she rotates as she pulls and kicks. Some of her technique may not be textbook, but as she says it works for her. Love the shoulder rotation kind of like a canoe going through the water.
Angelo Lozada	Responded Mar 28, 2012 03:45AM Margret's backstroke technique is perfect to show my swimmers how a backstroke should be done.
Kat	Responded Mar 28, 2012 04:33AM Great head position, nice and relaxed, need to get my swimmers to do this. Thanks for this.
ostamp	Responded Mar 28, 2012 07:19AM leanswimmer mythbuster :o) I love her style!
Alx	Responded Mar 28, 2012 08:42AM Face relaxed, head straight, good shoulder rotation what more do you expect ? good kick'in but can't see it yet :) Well done
Mia	Responded Mar 28, 2012 10:44AM Her furrowed eyebrows and tight lips tell a story of how she appears to be thinking technically about her stroke. Love the motion of the water over her left shoulder. It shows the flow and movement of her in the water.
Tracey	Responded Mar 28, 2012 02:07PM When I look at the photo, of course I see a great backstroker. But what strikes me first is the amount of water she is able to move as she swims.
Kevin	Responded Mar 28, 2012 02:15PM * Perfect head position for proper body alignment * neck, shoulders very relaxed to maximize her power output * eyes fixed not wasted head movement * appears to use more rthymic breathing inhale/ exhale for efficiency * I have watch Margaret swim many times/ very beautiful backstroke champion
Joaquin Sigler	Responded Mar 28, 2012 02:28PM FOCUS!...every stroke is an opportunity to improve. It's just me, my breathing and the water.
Joanna Harmon	Responded Mar 28, 2012 03:08PM Impressive how her head position is so right on!!! And her mouth closed, jaw relaxed with her facial expression showing a calm yet focused intent. Certainly, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Jen Mathe	Responded Mar 28, 2012 03:33PM She looks focused. She is training with purpose.
Mike S	Responded Mar 28, 2012 09:26PM Looks very balanced ... also appears that she's swimming in one of those "endless pools" - in a pool I'd think the water in front of her head would be still instead of flowing.
tri2swim	Responded Mar 31, 2012 05:17PM Pure relaxation and confidence in every aspect of her technique. The photo emanates strength!
Sean	Responded Apr 02, 2012 04:54PM midway through the pull with the right arm, coming in snug with the left, head comfortably at neutral, and arms at opposite stages. very nice form. she's pulling a nice fast, clip, too, judging from the apparent speed of the water around her. what i like best about the pic is that, because of the amount of force she is applying on her pull, you can see the directionality of every bit of water around her, and it's like looking at a physics diagram. it's fantastic. her lips are a bit tightly pressed, so i don't think she's all that relaxed. my swimmers are prone to making that face when i assign backstroke arms, with no pull buoy, and legs crossed at 85% power or better.