Swimming Theory by Andrei Ichoutov

My entrance at Andrei Ichoutov’s theory lessons feels almost like a scene from ‘The Fast Show’. I’m five minutes late. The classroom is already filled up with eager-to-learn swimmers and triathletes. Andrei – lean, mean and toting a moustache that must be all but hydrodynamic, is the last man standing, with a big projection screen behind him. There is just one empty seat left. As I move towards it, Andrei says: “No, not that one, someone’s sitting there, mate …” Fortunately, … saves the day by fetching me an extra-chair. Andrei starts with the basics and shows us some footage of Annick Van Westendorp, probably his most talented pupils. In the short film, she makes a ‘plank’ so perfect that it looks like she’s floating in the Dead Sea. “And yet, it is not even salt water”, says Andrei. “It’s a fact that the female body proportions and the way a woman’s body fat is divided along the body, legs and hips, is much more favorable to a perfect position in the water than the male body is. Most man will never be able to float this perfectly”. “Nevertheless”, he continues, “there is a lot to be learned from this position. For instance, you should always try to align your neck, hips, the back of the knees and the ankles, like Annick is doing here”. Andrei continues with 3D simulations, computer images and a lot of slow motion footage of elite swimmers. “One of the things that you should always be aware of” he says with a warning undertow in his voice, “is that it’s your EYES that dictate your body position in the water. Most people would say that it’s your head, but it is actually the eyes. If your eyes move to the side for a glance at your opponent, your head will follow and you will slow down. If your eyes look up, your head will follow, move upwards and cause your body to slide down. If you look straight at the bottom, your body will position itself high in the water. So, not ¾ down and slightly forward, no, look straight down! And of course, as triathletes, you are bound to swerve at one point or another during your open water swim, because of imperfections in your style, because your right arm is stronger and what not … If you must look where your going, incorporate that peaking in your stroke. Lift your head up a bit more during breathing, every fifth or tenth stroke. But ALWAYS face down when you’re swimming. Another extremely important issue is your breathing technique. Your breathing-out must always be completely finished by the time your mouth gets in touch with fresh air. And as soon as your face hits the water again, you should start exhaling. Don’t breathe that last bit out above water, always UNDER water. If you’re not a natural swimmer, you should practice on this, at least one or two times a week: grab the side of the pool wall, let your body hang down vertically, in a ‘standing’ position, and than do pull-ups at a steady pace. Make sure you’ve finished exhaling completely, every time, by the time your lips leave the water. And the third importance issue that I want to address today is the position of the hand and fingers. Your fingers should point straight down at ALL times. Almost everybody agrees on the importance of the ‘high elbow’ … but the fingers pointing straight down is at least as important.  So forget about your hand entering the water thumb first. And forget about your hand leaving the water pinky first after the ‘push’ phase. When your hand enters the water and your arm is stretched out, you should tilt your hand so that the fingers point down as soon as possible. And than keep your hand in that position throughout the pull ànd the push. And also, DON’T put your hand in the water before extending your arm. Entering the water 15-20 centimeters before your head is another principle that has long passed his expiry date. People aren’t made to swim or to be in the water. Everything that you put in causes drag. So keep your hand and arm out as long as possible, extend your arm as far as you can during the recovery phase, and than point your fingers down. Swimming is a strange and unnatural activity for men. The water causes that drag that you’re fighting so hard against and yet you nééd that drag for your propulsion, to move forward in the water. So try to have your hands and arms in the water only when they’re moving you forward. And try to relax. Be as relaxed as you can. Don’t fight the water, don’t struggle with it, work with it, it is your ally”. 

Humour, tips and tricks from an elite swimming coach