Sport Today

Just did read that some elite athletes did breathe bilaterally (or on one
side) during butterfly without DQ.

Do they risk DQ today?

Is this today considered legal with/without problems?

What about Atlanta OL?

Is there really a speed benefit/ endurance benefit breathing onesided or
bilaterally when compared to breathing forward?

What about training of children? Should breathing bilaterally even be
considered? (It is not being considered today where I live, as far as I know.)

Jan Gunnar Moe

"Side Breathing" is legal for Butterfly in all levels of swimming.  On
our HS team we have some that side breath and some that breath
convensionally, to the front.  We suggest diffent breathing styles to
different butterflyers based on their stroke style more than anything
else.  Flyer that have a more dolphin style usually do not feel
confortable with the side breathing and it is not always beneficial
for them.  But flyers with a "flat" stroke and good neck flexiblity
take to the side breathing very well and improves their endurace and
speed.

: : Just did read that some elite athletes did breathe bilaterally (or on one
: : side) during butterfly without DQ.
: :
: : Do they risk DQ today?
:
: no risk of DQ.  Mel Stewart, the American record holder in the 200 fly
: breaths on the side.  He's also the former world record holder.
:  
: : Is this today considered legal with/without problems?
:
: I believe so.
:  
: : What about Atlanta OL?
:
: Stewart didn't make it, and I don't know of anyone else who does it.
: I don't think anyone would be DQ'd if they did it.  When Stewart
: started doing it, everyone thought it was a dumb idea.  Then he
: won about a zillion races.

        Before Stewart, Valerie Lee of the Mission Viejo Nadadores
did the same thing, and went all the way to the World Championships
with it.

: I don't know.  It's not an entirely new concept (breathing to the side was
: first used by former Olympian Ross Wales in 1968), and its never really
: caught on... maybe that means something, maybe not.  It doesn't seem to
: slow one down by much, as evidenced by Stewart's success.

===============================================
|  James G. Acker                             |

===============================================
All comments are the personal opinion of the writer
and do not constitute policy and/or opinion of government
or corporate entities.

** NO..it is legal (atleast in Canada it is.)

**Our coach teaches it to us so I'm sure it's legal. I never heard of anyone getting DQ'd.

** Well they say it's faster. I don't know why but I guess it just is.

I don't know. But my coach teaches it to all ages in our club. From 6 to 17.

** I find it a little harder to breath to the side thatn it is to breath ahead but if you breath on the side you can see how you place in
your race. You can see where everyone is. If someone's catching up you know.

Hope this helped...>Chow,

Paul