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2014-12-06 9:33 PM


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Subject: swimming technique for triathlon
Is it possible to swim breaststroke for a triathlon or is freestyle (crawl) mandatory?


2014-12-06 9:34 PM
in reply to: df30092

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Richland, Washington
Subject: RE: swimming technique for triathlon
Any forward motion under your own power. I have done a few sprints doing fly.
2014-12-06 10:00 PM
in reply to: Swimaway

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Subject: RE: swimming technique for triathlon

Originally posted by Swimaway Any forward motion under your own power. I have done a few sprints doing fly.

2014-12-06 10:54 PM
in reply to: #5072658

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Subject: RE: swimming technique for triathlon
I've actually seen people doing elementary backstroke or something similar. I wouldn't recommend it though.
2014-12-07 7:54 AM
in reply to: 0

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Subject: RE: swimming technique for triathlon
Originally posted by Swimaway

Any forward motion under your own power. I have done a few sprints doing fly.


x2

... except for the fly part, wow! I think you might get awarded a special medal for doing that. JK, but you should.

Edited by melanfi 2014-12-07 7:56 AM
2014-12-07 8:35 AM
in reply to: mcmanusclan5

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Subject: RE: swimming technique for triathlon
Originally posted by mcmanusclan5

Originally posted by Swimaway Any forward motion under your own power. I have done a few sprints doing fly.




Double

But yes, I see people doing breaststroke all the time, and the occasional person having a freakout taking a "backstroke break".


2014-12-07 8:52 AM
in reply to: 0

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Subject: RE: swimming technique for triathlon
Originally posted by Swimaway

Any forward motion under your own power. I have done a few sprints doing fly.


I can just imagine how deflating it would be as I was swimming free and while sighting, looked ahead and saw you doing fly and I never catch up

And last year, early morning Aquathlon had dense dense fog and then sun glare. Needless to say, there was A LOT of breast stroking because no one knew where they were going. It was like swimming into a white sheet

Edited by TJHammer 2014-12-07 8:54 AM
2014-12-07 9:58 AM
in reply to: df30092

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Subject: RE: swimming technique for triathlon

Originally posted by df30092 Is it possible to swim breaststroke for a triathlon or is freestyle (crawl) mandatory?

The thing with the breaststroke is that it's really unfriendly to your fellow competitors in open water with less than ideal visibility.  Imagine swimming up behind someone and getting frog kicked out of nowhere.

2014-12-07 10:11 AM
in reply to: df30092

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Subject: RE: swimming technique for triathlon
The rule is very simple, as long as you propel yourself forward without assistance (i.e. you can't grab on to anything moving forward, but you can hold anything stationary) it doesn't matter how you do it.

I'm about the worst swimmer in triathlon history, it's breast stroke (and a sloppy slow one at that), but since I'm a decent cyclist and runner, I can still be competitive (podium is usually out, but top 5 is pretty much where I'm at; although I have won my AG a few tri's…). Usually call myself a non-drowning duathlete. :-)
2014-12-07 10:50 AM
in reply to: GMAN 19030

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Subject: RE: swimming technique for triathlon

Originally posted by GMAN 19030

Originally posted by df30092 Is it possible to swim breaststroke for a triathlon or is freestyle (crawl) mandatory?

The thing with the breaststroke is that it's really unfriendly to your fellow competitors in open water with less than ideal visibility.  Imagine swimming up behind someone and getting frog kicked out of nowhere.

In more beginner friendly triathlons, breaststroke is totally fine. It's also totally fine at the back of the pack, where lots of people are doing it.

But in low visibility situations or crowded water, breaststroke is very unfriendly and sometimes even dangerous. At IMCDA I was kicked in the face by a breaststroke person so hard it dislodged my goggles.  I thought I was going to get a nosebleed.  I had to hang of a kayak for more than 5 minutes getting things back in order.

This year at IMAZ I was slapped hard in the side of the head by a breaststroker.  I really wanted to dunk that person's head, see how they liked it.  But no, I didn't.

If you do choose breast stroke, be aware of your surroundings and be a friendly competitor.

2014-12-07 11:19 AM
in reply to: brucemorgan


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Subject: RE: swimming technique for triathlon
Breaststroke is fine. I've been jostled around during OWS far more by people doing freestyle than people doing breaststroke. I'm not saying to not try to be a friendly competitor and find an open spot if possible if you need to breastroke but in OWS I've always gotten bumped around. .


2014-12-07 5:48 PM
in reply to: TriTampa2

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Subject: RE: swimming technique for triathlon
I had to swim next to a guy at an only doing this weird backstroke/butterfly combo. Sort of like swimming next to a seizing manatee. Any other stroke is fine but probably more considerate to be to the side if doing breaststroke (or butterfly(!)).
2014-12-08 9:16 AM
in reply to: momandmd

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Subject: RE: swimming technique for triathlon
I was doing my very first Ironman, Ironman Wisconsin. About 15 minutes into the swim I got kicked in the face by someone doing the breaststroke. Knocked my goggles off and I saw stars. After the race I developed a black eye from that kick. I finished the swim in 1:15 so not fast, but not super slow. I was expecting open water mayhem, but not expecting that. I am a believer that if you are going to breaststroke swim, stick to the back of the pack. In close quarters it is a very dangerous swim stroke.
2014-12-09 7:01 AM
in reply to: df30092

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Exton, PA
Subject: RE: swimming technique for triathlon
Originally posted by df30092

Is it possible to swim breaststroke for a triathlon or is freestyle (crawl) mandatory?


Freestyle is an event, not a stroke. Front crawl is the stroke that most people refer to when saying freestyle. Freestyle in the competitive swimming world means you may use any official stroke. My coach had me swim butterfly in freestyle events when the competition was light.

For triathlon you just need to make forward motion without assistance, you do not get disqualified for poor technique. Breast stroke although acceptable is not friendly towards other people in the event, if you swim breast stroke the whole way you are most likely going to kick someone. Think about the other people in the event they trained for an event and in the first 15 minute they swim past you and get kicked in the face.

My advice is to learn to swim front crawl.
2014-12-09 9:10 AM
in reply to: jennifer_runs

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Subject: RE: swimming technique for triathlon
Originally posted by jennifer_runs

I've actually seen people doing elementary backstroke or something similar. I wouldn't recommend it though.


Where you there for my first triathlon. Yeah I would not recommend it either. took me an hour to do 1/2 mile.
2014-12-09 9:43 AM
in reply to: DeVinci13

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Subject: RE: swimming technique for triathlon

Originally posted by DeVinci13 ...if you are going to breaststroke swim, stick to the back of the pack. In close quarters it is a very dangerous swim stroke.

 

^^^^ x2



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