This is interesting, though it seems to me that it is possible to swim freestyle at an elite level with a low head position. Sun Yan, for example, seems to have a very low head position when he swims. I'm not an expert (or even close to one) but I have noticed that there is some variation in the techniques of elite freestyle swimmers. Sun Yang has a low head position, Thorpe sometimes looks forward (which is meant to be completely against the rules) and Michael Phelps skulls slightly instead of swimming with a text-book high elbow catch. Maybe someone with a better understanding of this can tell me whether I am right or wrong about this?
The ‘correct’ head position is the one à la Sun. BUT Ian’s position, that is higher, is not a mistake at all: the reason is the massive contribution of the action of his legs. With all the power and propulsion given by his legs, the Body position is directly dipendent from It, so his head is higher to compensate and reach the perfect axe for his body.
La posicion de la cabeza es clave, mantiene la cabeza alta y repira unilateralmente, de esa menera no se rompe el ritmo.
This is interesting, though it seems to me that it is possible to swim freestyle at an elite level with a low head position. Sun Yan, for example, seems to have a very low head position when he swims. I'm not an expert (or even close to one) but I have noticed that there is some variation in the techniques of elite freestyle swimmers. Sun Yang has a low head position, Thorpe sometimes looks forward (which is meant to be completely against the rules) and Michael Phelps skulls slightly instead of swimming with a text-book high elbow catch. Maybe someone with a better understanding of this can tell me whether I am right or wrong about this?
The ‘correct’ head position is the one à la Sun. BUT Ian’s position, that is higher, is not a mistake at all: the reason is the massive contribution of the action of his legs. With all the power and propulsion given by his legs, the Body position is directly dipendent from It, so his head is higher to compensate and reach the perfect axe for his body.