Natalie Coughlin Swim Tip #2: Kicking

Natalie tackles focusing on the power and efficiency of your kick. For more information about H2O Audio, head to http://www.h2oaudio.com

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• swimming
• natalie coughlin
• h2o audio
• waterproof
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• Freestyle
• kicking

[rexhardesty]

Natalie;

My question: I started for the 1st time & have now been consistantly swimming 1650m a day for the last 6 months.

I have reached a plateau where I seem to be moving at the exact same speed regardless of how much I paddle (My best time being 37 minutes).

I suspect that the wall I have hit is due to core weakness.

So I backed off watching my time and have focused on perfecting my technique.

Would you recomend a monofin to develop core strength. - Rex Hardesty

[h2oaudio]

@rexhardesty Hey Rex - Natalie gets a lot of these questions and isn't always able to answer them all. But I'm a swimmer (even have part of my degree in athletic coaching with an emphasis on swimming) First off plateaus in training are just a part of the process, no matter how stellar your training program, you're going to reach spots where you feel you've leveled off. My suggestion to you would be to train at different speeds. Fins may help with that, but if you're consistently trudging

[h2oaudio]

@rexhardesty (cont'd) through 1650, with no variance, your muscles will adapt to that and not know how to do anything different. Mixing up shorter, faster sets with slower recovery sets can get your muscles trained to go faster while also building up the endurance you need. Also, I'd suggest trying to hook up with a masters program in your area, most will let you drop in on a class or 2 so you can ask the coach a few specific questions about your training. Hope that helps! Dana ~ H2OAudio

[allah12311]

shes hot

[psyhar]

Yeah, but this advice does not apply to endurance swimming :-S

The amount of extra propulsion gained from a constant and powerful kick vs the oxygen wasted by the huge leg muscles is really not worth it unless you are sprinting. Hence the 2-beat kick's applicability, etc.

[Meowws]

@bitterclinger100 , are you like 12 years old? grow up and learn from a male PRO. only idiots will learn from female. there's not a single female in history invented things nor achieve excellence in sports and clearly her technics are for kids like you. am i right little boy?

[bitterclinger100]

@Meowws stfu and listen is good advice for anyone for almost anything;-)

[abksharma]

@1USKIWI I was just kidding...LOL...

[1USKIWI]

@abksharma Dude...She didn't say she competed in 11 Olympics. She's an 11 times Olympic Medalist which means she medaled 11 times. Five of these were in the 2004 Olympics and Six were in the 2008 Olympics. Five + Six = Eleven.

[Justthoughtidsaythis]

@psyhar When she was in high school, she had a torn labrum and decided against surgery. Waiting for it to heal she used to swim 3 mile workouts using nothing but her kick!

[abksharma]

@1alohakat I was just kidding man...to tell you the fact india has not won as many medal in last 10 years as she herself in 2 olympics. last olympic india 3 medals, last to last 1, last to last to last 0. (1 billlion poor people)