Swimming World Presents “Lessons with the Legends: Mary Freeman”

by Taylor Brien

04 December 2017, 04:00am

Lessons with the Legends: Mary Freeman

Sponsored by Dolfin Swimwear

Swimming World continues a series in which top coaches share some of the secrets of their success. The December issue of Swimming World Magazine highlights the many accomplishments of Coach Mary Freeman.

Before Teri McKeever became the rst female Olympic swimming coach for Team USA in 2004, there was a quintessential pioneer named Mary Freeman who removed herself from consideration in 1964. That choice was America’s loss.

Freeman was so well respected within the male-dominated coaching circles that she was being considered for the position of women’s Olympic coach in 1964. In a surprise move, she decided not to be a candidate, positing that the honor was more important to men for whom coaching was their livelihood.

Some of her top swimmers include Susan Doerr, Nina Harmer, Martha Randall, Jane Barkman, and Ellie Daniel. In her brief coaching career, Freeman inspired many women, including more than a dozen of her own swimmers who opted for coaching careers. In 1968, Freeman, the mother of six, retired from coaching, turning over her Vesper swimmers to Olympian George Breen. She was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1988 and the ASCA Hall of Fame in 2008.

To read more about Freeman’s accomplishments as a swimmer and a coach, check out the December 2017 issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now!

[PHOTO BY ROB SCHUMACHER, USA TODAY SPORTS ]

Give Swimming World Magazine as a Gift Today To Your Special Swimmer

Not a subscriber?  Subscribe With This Special 3-Year Offer! Swimming World Magazine gives you access to all of the back issues of Swimming World Magazine dating back to 1960!  Visit the Swimming World Magazine Vault.

Order a single “Collectors” issue print copy here or download a single .pdf copy here.

FEATURES

2017 SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR
by Annie Grevers and David Rieder
World: Sarah Sjostrom (Female European) & Caeleb Dressel (Male American)
Female American: Katie Ledecky
Male European: Adam Peaty
Pacific Rim: Emily Seebohm & Sun Yang
African: Farida Osman & Chad le Clos

5 BEST WOMEN’S & 5 BEST MEN’S PERFORMANCES OF 2017
by David Rieder
Nothing can quite top the magic of the Olympic Games, but as far as encores go, this year’s FINA World Championships emphatically delivered, with nine of this year’s top 10 performances coming in Budapest.

COACHING

010 LESSONS WITH THE LEGENDS: MARY FREEMAN
by Michael J. Stott

COLLEGE RECRUITING: THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE
by Michael J. Stott
In the second of a multi-part series, Swimming World explores social media and its effect on recruiting.

SWIMMING TECHNIQUE MISCONCEPTIONS: BREASTSTROKE AND BUTTERFLY BREATHING REVISITED
by Rod Havriluk
Following the conventional wisdom for both breaststroke and butterfly breathing results in excess vertical motion that has a negative impact on performance. An effective breathing motion requires a swimmer to extend completely at the neck so that the body remains more level, thereby minimizing resistance and maximizing propulsion.

SPECIAL SETS: CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY SETS
by Michael J. Stott

041 Q&A WITH COACH PETER CASARES
by Michael J. Stott

042 HOW THEY TRAIN SARA DAHER
by Michael J. Stott

TRAINING

030 DRYSIDE TRAINING:HOLIDAY TRAINING—DAMAGE CONTROL
by J.R. Rosania

JUNIOR SWIMMER

GOLDMINDS: BUILDING CONFIDENT SWIMMERS
by Wayne Goldsmith
Here’s a “babies-to-the-best” way of developing confidence in swimmers.

045 UP & COMERS
by Taylor Brien

COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS

008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
033 DADS ON DECK
034 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
046 GUTTER TALK
048 PARTING SHOT

Subscribe

Login

Notify of

new follow-up comments new replies to my comments

Label

{} [+]

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

Label

{} [+]

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

1 Comment

Oldest

Newest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

CoachGB

6 years ago

The greatest Woman coach ever. Six olympians 2 each games 60-64-68 and Ellie and Janie made it in 72. Ninak. Harmer made two 60 -64 while in HS. All born philly area and 12 or under when joining team.

0

Reply