7 Reasons why Freestylers are Unique Swimmers
By Vanessa Steigauf, Swimming World College Intern
Let’s face it: Freestylers are unique swimmers. Many of us have heard breaststrokers, backstrokers and butterfly specialists justify why, of all strokes, their focus is the most challenging or rewarding one, and why they are unique swimmers. But let’s have a look at only seven of many reasons why freestylers are the most special swimmers of all!
1. Freestyle Is Fastest
Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant
There is a reason why the 50 freestyle is the supreme event at many competitions. In no other race do the swimmers reach such a high tempo and speed. While this is of course true for swimming at every age and level, it is most impressive for events like the Olympics, where the world’s fastest swimmers reach record-breaking speeds that define them as the fastest swimmers in the world. Caeleb Dressel (USA) and César Cielo (Brazil) are the current world record holders for the 50 free (SCM and LCM). They reached speeds of 2.4 to almost 2.5 m/s, which is the fastest speed that humans reach in the water without any additional aid and, therefore, a very cool reason why freestylers are unique swimmers.
2. Freestyle Is The Best Main Stroke to Have…
… especially when the coach announces a hard main set. Freestylers will be the ones who won’t have to suffer as much as their teammates. When the set looks like 5 x 200, you think twice if you still want to be a flyer. Switching to freestyle is for sure one of the most compelling things to do in such situations.
3. It’s Tough to Get Disqualified
You have to be very absent-minded to get disqualified swimming freestyle. Unless you false start, miss the wall or go underwater for more than 15 meters, it is hard to do anything wrong.
4. Freestyle is Versatile – From the 50 to Open Water
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Freestyle is the only stroke that is used to generate the fastest speeds of the competition AND master the longest distances, in and out of the pool. It is the only stroke that has the 50 as an Olympic event and goes up to the 1500 or the mile in the pool, and even up to the 10k for open-water swimming. It is very clear that freestylers are unique swimmers who are able to cope with such a wide range of events.
5. It Is The Most Efficient Stroke
The reason why there is even a 10k event offered in open-water swimming is that it can be done in freestyle, the stroke where you can get the farthest and fastest using the least amount of energy. Put simply, it is the most efficient. Because it includes many possibilities to float on the water, little energy has to be used to actively propel your body forward. With the right technique, resistance can be avoided and long distances can be covered without fatiguing too soon.
6. Just Keep Swimming!
Freestyle can be the stroke of meditation. The reason why so many people all around the world choose swimming as their preferred sport is that you can zone out in the water after a rough day. Freestyle is the stroke that easily is done automatically by your body. After a while, the repetitive cycles of the left and right arm pulling you forward can really feel like meditation. Even the bubbling sound of water rushing past your ears matches the music at relaxing yoga sessions.
7. We Know We’re Special
We don’t need to swim any of these fancy strokes that might look beautiful, like butterfly, but feel awful. Grasping for air while trying to somehow manage your body position in the water is not enticing. Freestyle might be the simplest stroke but we freestylers know how special it is. It equips us with confidence and power and makes us appreciate swimming as a whole – with all its individually unique strokes.