Do freestyle tips from the 1960s still hold up today? In this episode, I’m diving into some notes I took from a DVD created by 1960 Olympic gold medalist in the 1500m freestyle, John Conrad. About ten years ago, I was deep into studying freestyle technique—trying to learn everything I could—and John and I actually had a few back-and-forth discussions about our different approaches. We didn’t always agree, and today I want to revisit some of his ideas, share what I took away from his teachings, and talk about where I see things differently.
If you’re working on improving your own freestyle technique, I’ve also put together a free checklist to guide you step-by-step—you’ll find the link in the show notes. Let’s dive in!
01:22-Apply Energy Only When Needed
02:03-Swim At Floatation Depth
02:52-Anxiety Is Number 1 Priority
03:21-As You Relax, Your Body Increases In Volume
03:55-Swimming Efficiently Means You’re Relaxed And Loose
04:23-Look Forward When Learning. Look Down When More Comfortable
05:13-Pivot Your Body
05:08-Relax Your Kick. It Is Not Worth The Effort
06:17-Kick On Your Back Instead Of Your Front
07:09-Both Arms Don’t Go At The Same Speed
07:52-Delay The Pull
09:20-Learn By Exaggeration
10:32-The First Component Of Swimming Is Relaxing. The Second Is Catch Up. The Third Is Almost Catch Up
11:35-Don’t Confuse Arm Speed With Swim Speed
12:25-Don’t Rush The Breath
13:08-Exhale All The Time From The Nose And Mouth
14:04-Breathe Every 2 But Change Every 25 Meters Or So
14:46-Kicking On The Side Is Good For Developing Your Breathing To The Opposite Side
15:24-Keep Your Hand Loose In The Recovery
16:01-Use Body Roll To Bring Your Elbow Through The Recovery
16:45-Pull Harder Not Sooner To Go Faster
17:56-Don’t Pull Too Early, Extend And Push Down Slightly
Grab the freestyle checklist here:
https://effortlessswimming.com/freestyle-checklist/
Work with us (stroke analysis coaching):
https://effortlessswimming.com/training-and-membership-plans/
Join a camp:
https://effortlessswimming.com/camps/
