Most swimmers think the turn itself is what makes them fast off the wall. It’s not. The REAL speed comes from the Push-Off. In fact, the Push-Off is one of the fastest moments in an entire swimming race. Elite swimmers can travel significantly faster underwater than they can on the surface — but only if […]
For many swimmers, the turn is a moment of relief — a brief pause before the next lap begins. But if you have ever watched elite competitors in the water, you will notice something striking: they attack the wall. They accelerate into it. And they come off faster than most swimmers are swimming mid-pool. That […]
Most swimmers don’t lose Individual Medley races because they’re not fit enough — they lose them because they keep making the same technical and strategic mistakes. The IM is brutally honest. It doesn’t care how fast your Freestyle is or how polished your Butterfly looks in warm-up. It exposes everything: your weakest stroke, your transitions, […]
Some swimmers seem fine on the surface but are quietly struggling in ways that are easy to overlook. For example, a swimmer who seems low energy, withdrawn, or less motivated may be labeled as lazy, uncommitted, or difficult. In reality, they may be dealing with something much deeper. Even at the highest levels of the […]
You think your Backstroke Kick is solid. Then you grab a kickboard, lie on your back, and reality sets in fast. Most swimmers treat kickboard workout sessions like a rest set — easy yards to fill space while their mind drifts somewhere else. That mindset is exactly why so many swimmers plateau. Used with real […]
What if your Butterfly didn’t feel exhausting — but controlled and connected? Most swimmers are told Butterfly is about power. Kick harder. Pull stronger. Move faster. But here’s what I see on deck all the time: swimmers aren’t lacking strength — they’re lacking feel for the water. And if you don’t feel the water during […]
Stepping into a pool for the first time as a grown-up feels daunting. Your heart races, your muscles tense, and a voice in your head whispers that you should have learned this decades ago. Here’s the truth: adults often learn swimming faster than kids in many ways because they bring patience, discipline, and clear goals […]
How the official rules don’t just define what’s legal — they actually build a faster, more efficient Butterfly stroke.By Abbie Fish — Founder, Swim Like a Fish | Coach, Clinician & Stroke Specialist What if your Butterfly technique doesn’t feel smooth because you’re fighting the rules — not using them? Most swimmers learn Butterfly by […]
Some of the most “difficult” swimmers to coach are also the ones with the highest untapped potential. For athletes with ADHD, the same traits that can disrupt practice—distractibility, impulsivity, emotional intensity—can be the very qualities that fuel elite performance, if coached the right way. Don’t take my word for it… see what Michael Phelps has […]
What if I told you the fastest swimmer in your relay…isn’t the one in the water? It’s the one on the block. Relay starts can WIN or LOSE races—and most swimmers don’t train them enough. A great relay start isn’t just a dive. It’s timing, momentum, and trust between teammates. When all three line up, […]
The #1 Mistake Young Swimmers Make Around the Pool What if I told you one of the biggest performance limiters in swimming… has nothing to do with technique? It’s awareness. I’ve coached hundreds of swimmers, and I see the same pattern over and over again. They know their strokes. They track their times. But when […]
Individual Medley races are unique because they test far more than just your ability to swim four strokes. They test your ability to connect those strokes without losing speed. A swimmer can have excellent Butterfly, strong Backstroke, and solid Breaststroke technique — but if the transitions between those strokes are sloppy, the race quickly falls […]
