Turning Over In The Open Water
Open Water Source has observed over the years how the fastest and the most accomplished open water swimmers have a relatively fast arm stroke turnover. Their turnover ranges from 73 strokes per minute for Philip Rush for over 28 hours in his English Channel three-way swim and Penny Dean’s spm pace in the mid-80s during her channel records swims to 97 for Eva Fabian on her world 5K championship in Canada last year.
We look at top athletes, whether they are triathletes or competitive open water swimmers, and their arms are simply moving fast. This ability is parrt aerobic capacity, part strength and part efficiency of movement.
Along these lines, Adam Radford wrote an insightful analysis on arm stroke turnover for TriZone.
It was an enjoyable and thought-provoking analysis that is consistent with observations of the world’s fastest athletes in the open water.
Stroke count chart above is courtesy of Adam Radford.
Copyright © 2010 by Open Water Source
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.
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