Swimswam Editor in Chief Braden Keith spotted an odd frame at the beginning of the women’s 100 backstroke semi-final heat last night with Missy Franklin. Franklin appeared oddly disconnected from the knee down as she released from the block. Check out this photo:
That’s Missy third from the top. Even at the elite level, you can see that some swimmers drag their feet off the backstroke start, but what sets Franklin apart is how far the rest of her body is out of the water.
Missy Franklin has never been particularly skilled at the backstroke start, although she has swung back and forth from having a competent release and struggles like the one above. Many of these went unnoticed because Franklin had a period where she was so dominant.
For example, check out this start from the 2012 Olympics. Franklin won the 100 backstroke there in 58.33 and was at the height of her powers. However, on closer inspection her start was a disaster and she spent the entire race making up for the ground she lost at the beginning.
Although we don’t get the same angle as above, let’s look at some frames from the race that make me think that Missy suffered from a similar starting problem.
This is Missy upon entry to the water (farthest to the left)
Courtesy: NBC Sports
Look at how far her feet are underneath the water, as well as her upper body. This means that she has a short entry and plenty of resistance from her feet right from the beginning. Watch the race in realtime and see how ground she needs to make up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nTv7p64pQA
One of the other reasons that Missy’s starts have been less commented upon is that body size makes a big difference in starts. If she were a smaller swimmer, the lack of precision off the block would likely hold her back from being competitive even within the US.
Courtesy: USA Swimming
Missy is using a technique that means there is a high probability of her getting a poor start. Once again, look at the position she gets herself into at Minneapolis Arena Pro Series event this past December:
There’s Franklin again, in the pink suit 3rd from the bottom.
So why does this happen?
It could be easy to say that Franklin is “slipping” off the block, but that is a symptom of the technique that Franklin is using on the wall.
Simply put, Franklin makes a lot of mistakes in her start that she has in common with age group swimmers. It is a combination of these mistakes that can lead her into this situation.
This slow motion start (actually one of her better ones) from the Arena Grand Prix Santa Clara in 2013 shows some of them:
That is Missy fourth from the bottom. First observe how she loads up on the blocks. Her posture is not aligned and set on the blocks, she has her back already arched a little, probably in an attempt to get off faster and mitigate some of her other flaws. Then she throws her head, instead of controlling her body. As a result of the lack of body connection and head throw, her legs are practically on their own.
For one final video, here is a great example of how much difference great backstroke starting technique can make, from the master herself Natalie Coughlin. Coughlin is directly below Franklin in this video, 4th from the top.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOJCSkx41Kk
Although Coughlin initiates the start with her head, she quickly corrects into near perfect posture, then connects her upper and lower body so that everything enters the water through one hole. At 15m, it’s game over!
These are skills that can be taught to all swimmers but are often undervalued despite the difference they can make in any race.
Chris DeSantis is currently working as a swimming consultant focused on technical skills and individualized mental training. For more information visit the Chris DeSantis Coaching page on Facebook.
Just wondering Braden … Have you heard from Todd since you posted this? Have you guys had any back-and-forth?
Also I notice that head isn’t locked inside her arms at the entry point. That definitely would add to the resistance.Hope she fixes it before Rio. Good luck!
I very much disagree with the idea that it’s her start that makes it so hard for her. Sure, her start could improve, but it’s really that her underwaters are absolutely terrible. If you watch each start she does, she moves with the rest of the group through the air and into the water. It’s once she gets into the water she just has no idea what to do. I have a hard time believing that she doesn’t work on those, but after this week I’m just not sure!
Just seeing that video from 2012, she looks so much more awkward underwater right now. Doesn’t look connected at all, it’s like she’s fighting the water under there.
It’s a misconception that dolphin kicking generates speed, it instead helps you stay closer to the max speed you get from push offs and starts. If she is generating very little speed off the pushoff/start, it makes very little difference what her UW technique is.
That said I agree she looks disconnected under the water as well and it’s also hurting her
Even if underwater dolphin kicks only maintain maximum speed rather than generate it, (I understand where your’re coming from in saying that, since technically you will not speed up after a start unless you’re wearing fins) and which I completely disagree with as someone spent their college career as an underwater kicking specialist, wouldn’t she then be slowing down because she cannot maintain her max speed?
You cannot dodge the fact that her underwaters are completely and shockingly atrocious compared with her ability on top of the water. While this analysis is wonderful, well thought out and just fantastic to have in the swimming community, I believe you’ve reached the incorrect conclusion.
Let’s compare someone like Kelsi Worrell,… Read more »
My name indicates I haven’t been around this community for very long, but with sport of swimming for many years. LOVE Missy and wish her the best – I do believe she will make the team in 200BK or one of the relays. With that said, I would like to ask: has anyone in this community commented on her “sluggishness” because of physics? I am a scientist and have a daughter who swims thru AG, HS and now college. I have seen so many teenage girls hit the plateau when they transform into womanhood. Some will overcome the challenge, but unfortunately, many won’t. Missy is a strong teenager 4 years ago and a strong young woman today. All swimmers have… Read more »
It is true that many female swimmers plateau or get slower post-puberty in swimming. However I think a lot of this has to do with a range of factors. Most important to me is that it is still possible to be a world class 15-16 year old female swimmer, so coaches can push for it over long term development. A lot of stories suggested that Todd Schmitz tried some unconventional things to not overtrain Missy at a young age (no weekend practices).
Basically, the game changes a lot more for women post puberty. They simply cannot train the same and even get the same results, their bodies are very different and training must be adapted. I would be interetested to… Read more »
Thank you, Coach, for your insight. I too would like to know training changes during female swimmers’ physical changes. It took my daughter five years to get her new PBs! I think lifting, which only started only in college, was helpful.
My start is better than hers
If I needed to hire two swim coaches I would hire Chris DeSantis twice
I’m unemployed…
More accurately self-employed- want me to come out and do some coaching? Check out my Facebook page
You are not in Denmark anymore?
I am in Denmark, and America. Moving to the New York City area shortly
good job Chris. thanks for posting
It looks like she’s trying to “kick” her feet up with that knee bend with the goal of trying to enter her body through one hole. Loses all her power. She’d be better off having a flatter start and forgetting about hitting the hole at this point.
Not only do age groupers have better starts than this, but so do some 55 and over masters swimmers.
Adam Peaty’s breaststroke start is not very good either, but he overcomes that with incredible tempo and power. Hope Missy will take full advantage of her size and power to overcome her slower start. Making last minute changes in start would be too risky.