Here’s how it works:
Submit your questions using the form below. What intrigues you about Aaron? Is it the way he trains…or what exactly goes on during a normal day for him? Every other week, Aaron will choose the most interesting, challenging, and thought-provoking question to give a detailed response to. Answers will be posted on below.
Answered Questions
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Do you have any tips for young swimmers at outdoor meets on how to
swim backstroke in a straight line, particularly 50 meters? -
“The best way to learn is to try to always swim straight in practice, no matter if in or outdoors. It can always help to find a lane line in the beginning of the race and stay near it for the remainder; don't swim circle pattern. One big, quite often overlooked solution is using a pair of goggles that has peripheral vision. Most do not, but finding a pair of goggles that does have peripheral vision that you are comfortable with will allow you to see the lane line and the swimmers out of the corner of your eye. If you have the sun in your face, you're just going to have to make sure you swim straight. There are many reasons people swim all over. You need to address your particular reason.”
Happy Swimming!
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As a coach I was having some swimmers look at your backstroke. We really like how you reach for the catch. It seems very similar to what Ian Thorpe did in his Free but when we try it the kids always start to reach around and they lose their straight line.
Do you have any tips for getting the reach but maintaining alignment?
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“That particular part of the stroke is very important. What you want to think about is extending your stroke through your elbow and pointing the palm of your hand immediately towards the side of the pool you're swimming from. You want to feel a stretch in your side as you reach your elbow up and ensure your forearm through your hand are perpendicular to your body. The sooner you can get your forearm perpendicular to your body, the sooner you can start the most effective part of your pull. With a lot of that surface area you can grab a lot of water. You don't have to pull extremely deep either. In fact, I like to start my pull right as I enter the water to help keep the turnover up.”
Happy Swimming!
Come back in two weeks to see if your question has been answered!