How to Swim Like an Olympian

Are you ready to swim like an Olympian?

Watching the Olympics inspires us. It makes us want to improve our lifestyle by getting off the sofa and exercising.

Many of you have been inspired by the Olympic swimmers, or perhaps you are looking to add a new sport to your cross-training efforts. And, others of you might be intrigued by the idea of a triathlon (running, biking, swimming).

Whatever your reason, in this article, we look at how to swim like an Olympian.

First, let’s look at why you might want to start swimming.

Swimming is Great Exercise

Swimming is an incredible form of exercise. Here are just a few of the benefits:

• Fitness
• Heart Health
• Weight Control
• Stress Relief
• Strong Muscles
• Endurance

One of the biggest benefits of swimming is that it is a low-impact sport. It’s not only a good complement to high-impact sports like running, but it’s great for people who have a hard time exercising on land.

The buoyancy of the water is easy on muscles and joints.

Now that we know why it’s good for you, let’s look at some tips for doing it right.

Set Realistic Goals

Don’t expect to jump in the pool and swim 100 laps or spend an hour doing it.

Just because you regularly do aerobics, ride a bike or run for an hour, doesn’t mean that translates equally to the pool.

Swimming is a different sport, so you have to set your goals and expectations wisely.

If you’re just starting out, set easy goals and gradually add on. For example, your first time out, aim for two laps. In a few days, up it to five laps, a week later, try ten laps.

Continue to add on, but do it gradually.

Quality Counts

Just as in other things, quality matters over quantity. If you swim 20 laps with poor form, you aren’t getting the most out of your time in the pool.

In the beginning, take it slow and work on your technique. The Olympians do this on a daily basis.

In addition, you want to work on your breathing. Try bringing your head just above the water line to catch your breath.

Wear the Right Gear

When you first get started, a swimming suit, goggles and cap will do.

Plan Your Workout

If you’re a runner, you know to warm-up, workout and stretch. The same holds true with swimming.

For most swimmers, this means beginning with a warm-up followed by your main swimming. Afterwards, you want to cool down and do some light stretching.

Olympians workout in sets. For example, they might take three minutes to swim 100 yards. Then, repeat it for four times. then, they rest for a minute or two and repeat.

During their sets, they work on one stroke for the four reps, and then another, and so on.

They usually work in IM (individual medley) order which is butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.

Know the length of your pool to plan your workout. Your backyard pool is obviously shorter than an Olympic-sized workout pool.

Hire a Trainer

Many people who workout in gyms or train for triathlons hire a trainer. The same is true for swimming.

If you want accountability and quality, organized training, this is the way to go.

You can also check out group swimming for children, teens and adults.

Other options include joining U.S. Masters Swimming. This program is for adult swimmers, and it is a national membership-operated nonprofit organization that provides membership benefits to nearly 60,000 Masters swimmers across the country.

If you’re considering swimming for exercise, we wish you luck! Stop by one of our locations and tell us how it’s going!