Breakthrough Swimming

Rating:
Summary: The Tone Setting Book on Swimming for the New Millennium.
Review: A Review of Colwin's:
Breakthrough Swimming

This book has it all: descriptions of historical swimming moments, explanations of the controversies surrounding the use of performance enhancing drugs, in depth discussions of the complex technical principles of human hydrodyamics, as well as the analysis of training and racing skills of the world's best competitive swimmers. The competitive swimming enthusiast will, without a doubt, be rewarded and recharged after reading this extensive and rich anthology.

In his quest to keep competitive swimming at the forefront of international sport excellence, the author has left no stone unturned. Colwin's knowledge and passion for competitive swimming translate well into his concise and comprehensive books through which he has established himself as the pre-eminent researcher and writer in this sport. This is his third book in the past ten years, and it is, thus far, his finest work.

Colwin has an uncanny knack of selecting the perfect anecdotal material, and conjuring up vivid imagery of the past, in order to enhance the reader's enjoyment and understanding of issues that face competitive swimming today and to help establish realistic goals for the future of this unique sport. The title, "Breakthrough Swimming," is apt as it is consistently used and developed as the major theme of this book; from the cover photo of a breaststroker breaking through the water's surface tension, to the recent breakthroughs of scientists, coaches and swimmers at the elite level. It is certain that this book will play an important role in the continued development of competitive swimming.

This treatise is a must have for swimming coaches everywhere and a great read for everyone who enjoys this sport. "Breakthrough Swimming" is exceptionally presentable, readable, and interesting. This is a comprehensive and important book which will set the tone for the sport of competitive swimming for many years to come....

Rating:
Summary: A true breakthrough for swimmming enthusiasts!
Review: Breakthrough Swimming offers an interesting mix of historical,theoretical and practical information which anyone who wishes to learn more about the sport of competitive swimming can appreciate. Cecil Colwin is the one of the brilliant swimmming minds in the world and all of his extensive experience and education shine through in this book. Coaches, swimmers and fans of all knowledge and experience levels will find relevant and usable information which is presented in a thorough yet reader-friendly manner.

Rating:
Summary: A true breakthrough for swimmming enthusiasts!
Review: Breakthrough Swimming offers an interesting mix of historical,theoretical and practical information which anyone who wishes to learn more about the sport of competitive swimming can appreciate. Cecil Colwin is the one of the brilliant swimmming minds in the world and all of his extensive experience and education shine through in this book. Coaches, swimmers and fans of all knowledge and experience levels will find relevant and usable information which is presented in a thorough yet reader-friendly manner.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding, Amazing
Review: I am one of those swimmers Mr Colwin talks about; natural, skilled, elite. Call it what you will, I swim easily and fast. Fast enough to win the Olympics (Tokyo, 1964, 400 IM)

This book is astounding in its breadth and depth of knowledge. If you are at all serious about swimming for speed or enjoyment you need to read this work. The first and second chapters on stroke development and recent breakthroughs would be enough to make this book a classic,

The fluid dynamics section is excellent, a good thing to know in your mind. But far more valuable to me is the chapter about feeling the water. Here we dive into the heart of the matter. The more talented swimmers feel the water more. You can swim most efficiently when you can tell when the water is most ready to pull against. I stand in awe of Colvin's ability to explain an intuitive process that leaves me blubbering for words.

All of us who love the water owe Cecil Colwin a deep and sincere thank you.

Rating:
Summary: An Essential Swimming Book
Review: In "Breakthrough Swimming", Cecil Colwin has done a fantastic job in bringing together the thoughts, techniques and advice of many famous and successful coaches and their swimmers from all over the world. Of particular interest are the changes in techniques over the years and the preparation of today's star swimmers. Also of great interest was the comparison and use of scientific principles in assisting in streamlining the body and optimising the use of energy and strength to gain more speed.
As a past competitive swimmer, this book is a "must" for anyone with an interest in this great sport. It is a book where you need to have your own copy so you can read and re-read it from time to time as well as use it as a reference guide.
A real "winner" from Cecil Colwin !

Rating:
Summary: An Essential Swimming Book
Review: In "Breakthrough Swimming", Cecil Colwin has done a fantastic job in bringing together the thoughts, techniques and advice of many famous and successful coaches and their swimmers from all over the world. Of particular interest are the changes in techniques over the years and the preparation of today's star swimmers. Also of great interest was the comparison and use of scientific principles in assisting in streamlining the body and optimising the use of energy and strength to gain more speed.
As a past competitive swimmer, this book is a "must" for anyone with an interest in this great sport. It is a book where you need to have your own copy so you can read and re-read it from time to time as well as use it as a reference guide.
A real "winner" from Cecil Colwin !

Rating:
Summary: Challenges Readers to Breakthrough Performances
Review: In his newest book Colwin places the sport of swimming in the historical context of continuous breakthroughs to new levels of human performance. Drawing on his five decades of coaching experience - from developmental to world records - and a wealth of research material drawn from many sources, the author provides much practical information along with theoretical background. This reader came away with the impression of being challenged to continue the process of innovation to faster swimming. Very well organized, the book will set beginners in the right direction and contains many items of interest for those with years in the sport. Ought to be on the bookshelf of all coaches, or anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of the sport.

Rating:
Summary: Challenges Readers to Breakthrough Performances
Review: In his newest book Colwin places the sport of swimming in the historical context of continuous breakthroughs to new levels of human performance. Drawing on his five decades of coaching experience - from developmental to world records - and a wealth of research material drawn from many sources, the author provides much practical information along with theoretical background. This reader came away with the impression of being challenged to continue the process of innovation to faster swimming. Very well organized, the book will set beginners in the right direction and contains many items of interest for those with years in the sport. Ought to be on the bookshelf of all coaches, or anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of the sport.

Rating:
Summary: An Essential Swimming Book
Review: The average swimming book prescribes stroke techniques, then offers a sample training routine. In 'Breakthrough Swimming', Cecil Colwin sets his stroke and training advice amid much firm background and some speculative discussion. Coach Colwin covers three subjects: History, Hydrodynamics and Training.

The history is broken into two parts which begin and end the book. The first is a history of swim technique (sidestroke, trudgen, overarm, etc.) which leads to a description of the four current strokes. As in Swimming Dynamics, he illustrates a "typical" way of swimming each stroke even though he admits a wide range of technique possibilities. (Colwin is an excellent draughtsman, but there seems to be a drawing error: In the text and in his side view drawings of the crawl, he describes a full body rotation of 35 - 45 degrees each way as desirable. His front view, however, shows the swimmer almost dead flat throughout the crawl.)

Continuing the exploration of hydrodynamics that he began in Swimming Dynamics, Colwin discusses the bow wave, lift, his vortex-shedding theories of propulsion, strategies of streamlining, using the hands to direct the water and many other ideas.

In covering training, Colwin (and Pyne) offer the usual ideas of aerobic vs anaerobic, interval vs distance, etc. I find myself thinking of his section, "Development of the Will to Overcome Fatigue," as I swim. I realize that I have rarely reached Hurt, much less Agony or Pain since high school (at least not in the pool).

The book ends with a history of competition that discusses rule changes, better pools, the World Cup tour (he's not impressed), national team vs club-based coaching, a chronicle of doping, fistgloves, the problems with bodysuits, a ranking of the stars of the 20th century and a look forward.

I definitely found the book worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: History, Hydrodynamics and Training
Review: The average swimming book prescribes stroke techniques, then offers a sample training routine. In 'Breakthrough Swimming', Cecil Colwin sets his stroke and training advice amid much firm background and some speculative discussion. Coach Colwin covers three subjects: History, Hydrodynamics and Training.

The history is broken into two parts which begin and end the book. The first is a history of swim technique (sidestroke, trudgen, overarm, etc.) which leads to a description of the four current strokes. As in Swimming Dynamics, he illustrates a "typical" way of swimming each stroke even though he admits a wide range of technique possibilities. (Colwin is an excellent draughtsman, but there seems to be a drawing error: In the text and in his side view drawings of the crawl, he describes a full body rotation of 35 - 45 degrees each way as desirable. His front view, however, shows the swimmer almost dead flat throughout the crawl.)

Continuing the exploration of hydrodynamics that he began in Swimming Dynamics, Colwin discusses the bow wave, lift, his vortex-shedding theories of propulsion, strategies of streamlining, using the hands to direct the water and many other ideas.

In covering training, Colwin (and Pyne) offer the usual ideas of aerobic vs anaerobic, interval vs distance, etc. I find myself thinking of his section, "Development of the Will to Overcome Fatigue," as I swim. I realize that I have rarely reached Hurt, much less Agony or Pain since high school (at least not in the pool).

The book ends with a history of competition that discusses rule changes, better pools, the World Cup tour (he's not impressed), national team vs club-based coaching, a chronicle of doping, fistgloves, the problems with bodysuits, a ranking of the stars of the 20th century and a look forward.

I definitely found the book worth reading.