Learn from the Olympians: Attila Czene on: My favorite butterfly & freestyle drills

Swimming Technique, Apr-Jun 2001

Attila Czene (pronounced: "Tsehneh) is one of the most versatile hand durable swimmers in the world. The 26-year-old has been a member of the Hungarian National Team, coached by Tamas Szechy, since 1988 and has competed at three Olympiads. Since January 2000, he has been a student at Arizona State University, where he is majoring in media relations. Coached by Mike Chasson, he tied the short course world record in the 200 meter individual medley (1:54.65) at the 2000 NCAA Championships. Currently he represents Sun Devil Aquatics.

A multiple Hungarian national champion and record holder, Attila was the bronze medalist in the 200 IM in Barcelona in 1992. Four years later, in Atlanta, he smoked the field from lane 1 to win gold in Olympic record time (1:59.92). At the Sydney Games last year, he also found himself in lane 1, and led through the first 125 meters, but a debilitating chest injury he sustained after NCAAs took its toll, and he faded to fourth.

Czene is a world-class swimmer in every stroke with the following best times (long course meters): 100 free, 50.23; 200 free, 1:49.07; 100 back, 56.15; 200 back, 2:01.55; 100 breast, 1:04.67; 100 fly, 54.91; 200 fly, 2:00.25.

In this article, part of our continuing "Learn from the Olympians" series, Attila demonstrates his favorite butterfly and freestyle drills.

For each drill, his coach, Mike Chasson, head men's and women's coach at Arizona State University and head coach of Sun Devil Aquatics, offers his helpful and instructive comments.

Finally, Bill Volckening, head coach of the Tualatin Hills Barracudas Masters of Beaverton, Ore., offers a Masters perspective on Attila Czene's technique. Bill was recently head coach of the 4th USMS High Altitude Training Camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Photo #1

Attila Czene: As I take a stroke with my right arm, the left arm is extended and I take a dolphin kick, keeping my hips high in the water.

Coach Mike Chasson: We do the one-- arm phase of the drill with the opposite arm extended to keep the swimmer balanced. Attila breathes to the side.

Coach Bill Volckening: The most interesting thing about this picture is how much it looks like freestyle. There are a few ways to do one-arm butterfly. In this picture, Czene demonstrates the one-arm fly with the non-stroking arm extended forward. This position is an easy way to learn the drill.

Photo #2

Attila Czene: Before beginning my next stroke, I get full arm extension and focus on keeping my hips high.

Coach Mike Chasson: Attila is very good at "swimming tall"-making every inch of his body count. He also keeps his hips high.

Coach Bill Volckening: During the undulation, the hips lift and the hind quarters rise slightly above the surface of the water. It is very important to control the amplitude of the kick when using the dolphin kick to generate propulsion with the butterfly. If your kick is too big, it may create drag more effectively than it generates propulsion.

Photo #3

Attila Czene: As I recover, I "rest" by keeping my arms loose and relaxed. Coach Mike Chasson: An effortless recovery is essential to developing "easy speed." Here Attila expends the least possible energy in recovering his arms after the third fly stroke.

Coach BW Volckening: Czene's graceful butterfly recovery looks effortless because most of the effort is generated from the core. Using a powerful, undulating, core-driven dolphin kick, both arms effortlessly unfold over the water. Swimmers who have the greatest difficulty with butterfly are those who try to drive their strokes from the arms and legs rather than the core.

Photo #4

Attila Czene: As I begin the butterfly stroke, I extend forward and keep my hips high.

Coach Mike Chasson: Attila extends his arms fully for the catch, presses down with his chest and keeps his hips up.

Coach Bill Volckening: By driving the butterfly stroke with core strength and undulation, Czene is able to use his legs like a whip to create propulsion. When his arms reach forward in the water, he presses down with his chest to initiate the undulation.

Photo #5

Attila Czene: Keeping my elbows high, I accelerate through the pull.

Coach Mike Chasson: Attila always keeps his elbows high, which allows him to maintain excellent technique no matter how tired he may be. Here he accelerates through the completion of his stroke, as his hands come inside the hips.

Coach Bill Volckening: Czene anchors his hands to finish the underwater pull. During the pull phase, he keeps his elbows high toward the surface of the water, which allows for greater leverage.

Photo #6

Attila Czene: As I begin the "recovery," I place my hand in the water up to the wrist, keeping my elbows high.

Coach Mike Chasson: Attila enters the water perfectly and keeps his elbows high as he pushes forward in this partially-submerged "recovery."

Coach Bill Volckening: Czene demonstrates a nice high elbow position with the right arm, while the left arm glides through the surface. While raising the elbow and lifting the arm, Czene does not raise the hand out of the water at any point. When teaching this drill, I ask the swimmers to insert the hand fully in the water while pressing forward without bending the wrist.