Breathing Room

Swimming Technique, Jul-Sep 2004 by Stott, Michael J

Butterfly breathing is an individual proposition. There are a number of different breathing patterns from which to choose-every stroke, every other stroke, one up one down, two up one down, side-breathing. The list seems endless. Which is best for you?

Good butterfly is a bit like a bad movie. Even the casual observer recognizes it when they see it.

Maybe that's why history's most memorable 200 fly swims are best remembered for their flawless stroke mechanics and breathing patterns-think Misty Hyman's monstrous third wall at Sydney; or Summer Sanders' triumph in Barcelona, breathing every stroke; or Michael Phelps'...well, take your pick.

While one wag has opined that Phelps doesn't breathe at all, Coach Richard Quick maintains that Hyman's ability to maintain her wall and underwater undulation speed through the breakout into the swim was her key to Olympic victory.

"We worked on her taking a breath within the rhythm of her stroke so it didn't slow her down. For the most part, she was two up and one down in the race. There was not a strategy in regard to the breathing patterns-just in regard to the number of kicks off the wall."

Hyman, a torpedo under water, normally took nine strokes off each wall. For the Sydney final, she and Quick agreed to a nine-seven-six-six pattern that she executed perfectly. On the final turn, Hyman stayed horizontal through the breakout while her Australian counterparts took two kicks before breathing, sending them slowly to vertical and a runners-up finish.

In swimming, not all athletes can be like Mike or Misty, but good coaching, strong work ethics and innate ability can produce marvelous results.

In a prelude to the Olympic Games in Athens, Swimming Technique talked with the coaches of several nationally prominent teenagers about their butterfly training, breathing methods and strategies they employ with their swimmers.

Dana Vollmer, 16

Fort Worth Area Swim Team

Fort Worth, Texas (Coach Ron Forrest)

Only 16, Dana Vollmer is very striking, standing 6-feet tall. She's a Pan Am Games veteran with times of 59.35 in the 100 meter fly and 1:59.80 in the 200 free. Vollmer has Olympic Trials cuts in the 50400-200 free, 100-200 fly and 100 back.

"Dana is much more technique-oriented than strength-oriented," says her coach, Ron Forrest. "She's been growing a lot since she was 13, so her musculature hasn't caught up with her lengthening arms and legs yet."

In the 100 fly, Vollmer prefers a two-up, one-down pattern. In the 200, she'll often increase to three up and one down, and in the 50, she'll breathe, perhaps, every third or fourth stroke. Under any circumstance, swimmer and coach concentrate on "keeping a line, worrying about hand placement and hips," says Forrest.

Vollmer trains nine times per week. Her heaviest aerobic-based fly is done early in training with a progressive lessening as the season goes on. Vollmer's seasonal daily average is 5,800 yards.

In early season, she may do as much as 2,000 butterfly, followed by 500 to 1,500 in mid-season and no more than 200 to 600 in the final weeks before her big meets.

Jordan Andersen, 16

Carter Center Aquatics

Roanoke, Virginia (Coach Brent St. Pierre)

Jordan Anderson has swum 22.4 in the 50 yard fly, 49.59 in the 100 and 1:51 in the 200. Head coach Brent St. Pierre thinks Anderson can turn in a 1:47 next season.

"Breathing patterns for the three distances start with proper mechanics," says St. Pierre. "If done properly, you could breathe every stroke at little or no disadvantage.

"We really stress breathing in the power phase of the pull, creating very little head movement and just getting that chin to the top of the water. We place a lot of importance on the catch. We notice that many flyers don't get their hands under their bodies well and basically swim outside their body cores.

"We videotape and do drills with hands entering in front of the shoulder line, accelerating and getting them under the body. Getting the hands under the body is what makes flyers go fast. It sets up everything.

"For the 50, our strategy is simple: be the first one in, up, to the wall and first at the finish. Our strategy for the 100 is no different-a wide open sprint. We like Jordan to establish his breathing pattern immediately, preferably every third stroke and to attack the third wall.

"When Jordan has not swum his 100 fly to our expectations, he has done the same thing wrong each time-he didn't breathe the first lap. Consequently he went into oxygen debt at the end of the race.

"For the 200, we emphasize easy speed for the first 100, slowly building in the legs, breathing one up and one down. On the third 50, we focus on attacking the back half, breathing as much as he likes, feeding his legs the oxygen they need.

"The fourth 50 is training and heart. If you've done the work and believe that you can finish strong, you will. Again, we stress the hard legs on the fourth 50, breathing as much as necessary coming home, but trying not to breathe the last five to eight yards approaching the finish. That doesn't always occur. We are still working on that," says St. Pierre.