With special guest: **Jukka Shemeikka**

Head of Aquatics - Olympic Training Center Rovaniemi

**Overview**

Individuality in breaststroke kick was discussed through biomechanics, mobility, coordination, and the relationship between kick style and arm stroke.

Core Principle

*   **Jukka** argued that breaststroke technique should not be generalized: each swimmer’s structural and functional constraints influence their movement logic.
*   Hip, knee, ankle, pelvic, and lumbar-spine mobility affect which kick pattern feels natural and allows propulsion with less effort.
*   Natural movement should feel effortless; drills cannot fully correct a limitation unless the swimmer first develops the required movement capacity on land.

**Kick Variations**

*   **Glenn** contrasted a narrow, high-tempo kick such as **Adam Peaty’s** with wider or more pronounced kicks demonstrated by **Zac Stubblety-Cook**, **Michael Andrew**, **Amanda Beard**, and **Kate Douglass**.
*   A narrow knee position is not universally optimal. Some swimmers can use a large scoop or “W” shape because their hip mobility and body alignment support it, while others need a shallower or narrower recovery.
*   **Anton McKee** was discussed as an example of a swimmer who draws the feet into a perpendicular position without excessive recovery; **Pavel** was described as using a shallower, higher-tempo kick.

**Coaching Approach**

*   Coaches should assess joint ranges, body structure, alignment, coordination, and force creation, using land-based screening and video from the pool.
*   Rather than prescribing a champion’s style, coaches should offer subtle cues and let swimmers determine which movement feels natural.
*   Pull-buoy drills and narrow-knee work may help specific swimmers, but overemphasizing them can reduce the ability to connect with clean water and generate propulsion.

**Open Questions**

*   How can coaches reliably distinguish an athlete’s natural coordination from a technique ingrained through years of training?
*   What further research will clarify coordination models, including the proposed ipsilateral and contralateral patterns, across breaststroke and freestyle?


Sign In to watch video

Sept 1, 2026 - Variations in Breaststroke Kick