Don’t Forget Your Socks, Daniel
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Daniel Kowalski, one of the most versatile freestyle pool swimmers in the world, finished third at this year’s Big Swim wearing some…nice black socks. A bit past his prime after winning 4 medals in the 200-, 400- and 1500-meter races at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, Kowalski was looking for an edge against his younger competitors. Voila … a pair Compressport socks.
“There is no drag while wearing the socks and most of all they are really comfortable. Compressport helps to increase circulation. While your swimming there is a lot of upper body movement and for most of us very little in the lower legs. The body requires fresh clean oxygenated blood during efforts and in recovery. The compression helps.”
The long sheathing calf socks, one of a range of veino-muscular compression products that are popular with triathletes and other land-based endurance athletes, helps reduce the accumulation of lactic acid in the legs and allows more efficient blood flow back from the legs to the heart. Basically, it helps reduce the discomfort when you are swimming hard, but we are just not used to seeing swimmers were…socks.
On the other hand, you can’t knock a good performance.
Copyright © 2010 by World Open Water Swimming Association
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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