Kyle Chalmers – 44.84 – 100m Free World Record

How good is it to get first hand insights into what it took to set a new men’s 100 Freestyle World Short Course Record – Congratulations Kyle Chalmers!!!!

Out in 21.40, (0.32 under world record pace) and back in 23.44 for a new world record mark of 44.84 Wow!!

Thanks as well to Brett Hawke for the interview.

Kyle has been on a journey of racing over the past couple of months, maximizing that imense talent, and racing like he has never raced before.  One of the keys to that world record was Kyle’s racing schedule, week in and week out, and the opportunity to implement what he practices in real racing conditions.

I his own words, Kyle has “ finally started to figure it out”.  The constant racing enabled Kyle to work out and implement what he had to do to execute a great swim for that world record and execute he did.

The fruits of the work Kyle has put in can be seen in the break out off his start, the “execution into the walls”, leg speed in the turns, “pumping five fly kicks off the wall”, stroke rate maintenance, and hitting his goal time at the 50m split. 

Yes, the importance of the work off the wall. In the interview Kyle maintains that this is still “an area [he] needs to improve on to be the best in the world”. He also speaks about the role of his coach in pushing the skills aspect ”day-in, day-out”.  Kyle also talks about his breathing pattern – shows how individual that is.

Check out Brett Hawke interviewing Kyle Chalmers about his short course 100m freestyle world record.

Drills – Freestyle – Triple Touch Switch

This drill called the Triple Touch Switch (3TS).  A great drill by legendary coach  Bob Bowman.  You need to master some easier drills before you start practicing this one.

At the outset it is recommended that you practice this one with fins.  

The Tripple Touch Switch Freestyle Drill  

Drills – Freestyle – Five Standards

Five great all-round drills from MySwimPro.  The swimming in this video is by a very proficient swimmer not using fins. In these drills however, significantly greater propulsion is generated by the kick, so using fins is highly recommended. Once you become very proficient in these drills try them without the fins.

Five drills are covered in this video and the names of the drills described are (the time stamp indicates when each dril is commenced on the video clip: 3 strokes 6 kick (1m03s), catch-up (2m32s), 6 kick switch (3m25s), fist (4m20s), and zipper (finger drag) *(5m40s)..  In all of these drills it is critically important to maintain a high elbow position and don’t allow your kick to resemble a bicycling motion.