How can you improve your swimming speed?

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Swimming is a fantastic way to stay in shape and improve your overall fitness. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned athlete, you can always find ways to improve your swimming speed.

Here are some tips and training sessions that can help you increase your speed and take your swimming to the next level.

Table of Contents

Tips for Maximising Swimming Speed

Improve Your Technique

The first step to increasing your swimming speed is to focus on your technique. Proper technique helps you swim more efficiently, which in turn helps you swim faster. Some tips for improving your technique include:

  • Keep your body streamlined
  • Use your core muscles to power your stroke
  • Keep your head in a neutral position
  • Kick from the hips, not the knees
  • Keep your arms straight and pull through the water with your whole arm

Train with Intervals

Interval training is one of the most effective ways to improve your swimming speed.

The basic idea is to swim a set distance or time at a faster pace than your normal pace, followed by a period of rest or slower swimming.

This helps to improve your cardiovascular fitness and helps you swim faster over longer distances.

Use Resistance Training

Resistance training can help you increase your swimming speed by building strength and endurance. Some examples of resistance training for swimmers include:

    • Using a pull buoy to focus on your upper body strength
    • Using paddles to increase resistance and build arm strength
    • Using ankle weights to build leg strength

Beginner Training Session

If you’re just starting out with swimming, here’s a training session that can help you increase your speed:

  • Warm up: 200 meters of easy swimming
  • Main set: 5 x 50 meters at a moderate pace, with 15 seconds rest between each 50 meters
  • Cool down: 100 meters of easy swimming


Intermediate Training Session

If you’ve been swimming for a while and want to take your speed to the next level, try this training session:

  • Warm up: 400 meters of easy swimming
  • Main set: 4 x 100 meters at a fast pace, with 30 seconds rest between each 100 meters
  • 4 x 50 meters at a very fast pace, with 20 seconds rest between each 50 meters
  • Cool down: 200 meters of easy swimming

Advanced Training Session

If you’re a serious athlete looking to improve your swimming speed, try this advanced training session:

  • Warm up: 800 meters of easy swimming
  • Main set: 4 x 200 meters at a fast pace, with 45 seconds rest between each 200 meters
  • 8 x 50 meters at a very fast pace, with 15 seconds rest between each 50 meters
  • Cool down: 400 meters of easy swimming

Additional Tips

Here are some additional tips that can help you increase your swimming speed:

  1. Work on your breathing technique. Proper breathing technique can help you swim more efficiently and reduce drag in the water.
  2. Incorporate strength training into your routine. Strengthening your muscles can help you swim faster and reduce the risk of injury.
  3. Set goals for yourself. Whether it’s swimming a certain distance or improving your time, setting goals can help keep you motivated and focused.

Conclusion

Improving your swimming speed takes time and dedication, but with the right training, you can achieve your goals.

Focus on improving your technique, incorporate interval and resistance training, and follow a training plan that’s appropriate for your fitness level.

With these tips and training sessions, you can take your swimming speed to the next level and enjoy all the benefits that swimming has to offer.

Remember to also take care of your body and listen to it when it needs rest. Happy swimming!

Coach Shamus

At the heart of MultiSportCoaching is Coach Shamus, a seasoned athlete and experienced coach with a passion for helping others achieve their goals. With over 25 years of experience in coaching athletes of all levels, Coach Shamus has the knowledge and expertise to help you reach your full potential. https://multisportcoaching.co.za/about-us/