Book Description
In Breakthrough Swimming, legendary swimming coach and historian Cecil Colwin describes how competitive swimmers of the modern era—such as swimming giants Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett—apply innovative training methods and stroke techniques to set new standards of performance. All four strokes as well as starts and turns are presented in thorough detail in Colwin’s easy-to-grasp instructional style. Not only will you gain a greater understanding of competitive swimming through its origins and evolution, but you’ll also learn these skills: • Improve stroke technique, starts, and turns. • Develop a better training program and understand the principles of training. • Apply the latest research in hydrodynamics and the propulsive mechanisms of speed swimming to create ultimate speed through the water. • Coach the “feel” of the water to help swimmers detect and manipulate the water flow with ever-increasing dexterity. Internationally acclaimed sport physiologist Dr. David Pyne, recipient of the Australian Sports Medal for his work with that country’s Olympic swimming team, contributed a special chapter to the book. Pyne covers all phases of modern training, from physiological testing and monitoring to race preparation and post competition analysis. The engaging book also offers an inside look at how the sport has evolved, especially in recent years, with the advent of professional swimming and the growing specter of performance-enhancing drugs. Combining the latest technical innovations with a revealing historical context, Breakthrough Swimming is the definitive work on the past, present, and future of competitive swimming.


From the Publisher
”What a marvelous undertaking! Readers can use as much or as little of the information as one would want; those just beginning their careers can gain enough relevant data to get started on a correct course, while seasoned coaches and swimmers will certainly be challenged by the book’s in-depth information.” Paul Bergen Member of the International Hall of Fame Has coached 10 swimmers to 22 world records ”In Breakthrough Swimming, Cecil Colwin has called upon all of his years of experience as a coach, teacher, historian, scientific analyst, writer and iconoclast to create a brilliant, comprehensive and eminently readable work of art. Colwin's unique insights make this book an absolute must-read for every serious swimmer, coach, and lover of the sport. Breakthrough Swimming has reconfirmed Colwin as the dean of the world's swimming scholars.” Phillip Whitten Editor-in-Chief Sports Publications, Inc. "Cecil Colwin continues his major contributions to the thought processes of swimming in a fascinating book that gives meaning and relevance to a mountain of information ." John Leonard, Executive Director, American Swimming Coaches' Association Editor, American Swimming Magazine "Like Counsilman's The Science of Swimming, Colwin's Breakthrough Swimming serves as a comprehensive technical manual on competitive strokes and training, and is certain to stimulate creative thinking on the part of novice and veteran coaches alike." Murray Stephens, Director, North Baltimore Aquatic Club, USA Olympic Coach


About the Author
Cecil M. Colwin is a legend among swimming coaches. He has had a distinguished international coaching career in which he developed Olympic medalists, world-record holders, and national champions. Colwin is also acknowledged as one of the swimming world’s most influential coach educators and historians. His indelible mark on the sport spans from pioneering swim training in South Africa to coaching Canadian national and international competitors. Colwin is acknowledged as a dynamic lecture-room and pool-deck clinician with a gift for vivid imagery and the ability to analyze and simplify complex techniques. A former national technical director of Canadian swimming, Colwin was instrumental in researching, designing, and implementing Canadian Swimming’s National Plan for the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games as well as the Canadian National Apprenticeship Program for training coaches in all sports. Colwin has also designed and conducted coaching certification courses for Level III coaches in the United States and Australia. In 1985 and 1986, he received the American Swimming Coaches Association’s (ASCA) certificate of excellence for outstanding coaching achievement in the United States. In 1993 he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Colwin has authored hundreds of articles, papers, and books on competitive swimming, and he continues to serve as a consultant to administrators, coaches, and swimmers worldwide. He is a regular contributor to several swimming magazines, including Swimnews, Swimming World, Swimming Technique, and The American Swimmer. Known as one of the swimming world’s most inspirational lecturers, he has addressed the World Swimming Coaches’ Conference on several occasions and has given hundreds of lectures and clinic presentations worldwide. Since 1995 Colwin has served as a member of the World Swimming Coaches’ Association’s Anti-Doping Committee. He is also the founder of Cecil Colwin’s International Swim Camps, a leading stroke clinic and training experience for swimmers and coaches from many countries. Colwin and his wife, Margaret, live in Ottawa, Ontario, where he pursues a variety of interests including portrait painting, videography, cartooning, reading, weight training, and listening to music.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In Breakthrough Swimming, swimming coach and historian Cecil Colwin describes how competitive swimmers of the modern era - such as swimming giants Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett - apply innovative training methods and stroke techniques to set new standards of performance. All four strokes as well as starts and turns are presented in thorough detail in Colwin's easy-to-grasp instructional style.

SYNOPSIS

In Breakthrough Swimming, legendary swimming coach and historian Cecil Colwin describes how competitive swimmers of the modern era-such as swimming giants Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett-apply innovative training methods and stroke techniques to set new standards of performance.

All four strokes as well as starts and turns are presented in thorough detail in Colwin's easy-to-grasp instructional style. Not only will you gain a greater understanding of competitive swimming through its origins and evolution, but you'll also learn these skills:

Improve stroke technique, starts, and turns. Develop a better training program and understand the principles of training. Apply the latest research in hydrodynamics and the propulsive mechanisms of speed swimming to create ultimate speed through the water. Coach the "feel" of the water to help swimmers detect and manipulate the water flow with ever-increasing dexterity.

Internationally acclaimed sport physiologist Dr. David Pyne, recipient of the Australian Sports Medal for his work with that country's Olympic swimming team, contributed a special chapter to the book. Pyne covers all phases of modern training, from physiological testing and monitoring to race preparation and post competition analysis.

The engaging book also offers an inside look at how the sport has evolved, especially in recent years, with the advent of professional swimming and the growing specter of performance-enhancing drugs. Combining the latest technical innovations with a revealing historical context, Breakthrough Swimming is the definitive work on the past, present, and future of competitive swimming.

About the Author

Cecil M. Colwin is a legend among swimming coaches. He has had a distinguished international coaching career in which he developed Olympic medalists, world-record holders, and national champions. Colwin is also acknowledged as one of the swimming world's most influential coach educators and historians. His indelible mark on the sport spans from pioneering swim training in South Africa to coaching Canadian national and international competitors. Colwin is acknowledged as a dynamic lecture-room and pool-deck clinician with a gift for vivid imagery and the ability to analyze and simplify complex techniques.

A former national technical director of Canadian swimming, Colwin was instrumental in researching, designing, and implementing Canadian Swimming's National Plan for the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games as well as the Canadian National Apprenticeship Program for training coaches in all sports. Colwin has also designed and conducted coaching certification courses for Level III coaches in the United States and Australia. In 1985 and 1986, he received the American Swimming Coaches Association's (ASCA) certificate of excellence for outstanding coaching achievement in the United States. In 1993 he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Colwin has authored hundreds of articles, papers, and books on competitive swimming, and he continues to serve as a consultant to administrators, coaches, and swimmers worldwide. He is a regular contributor to several swimming magazines, including Swimnews, Swimming World, Swimming Technique, and The American Swimmer. Known as one of the swimming world's most inspirational lecturers, he has addressed the World Swimming Coaches' Conference on several occasions and has given hundreds of lectures and clinic presentations worldwide. Since 1995 Colwin has served as a member of the World Swimming Coaches' Association's Anti-Doping Committee. He is also the founder of Cecil Colwin's International Swim Camps, a leading stroke clinic and training experience for swimmers and coaches from many countries.

Colwin and his wife, Margaret, live in Ottawa, Ontario, where he pursues a variety of interests including portrait painting, videography, cartooning, reading, weight training, and listening to music.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

In Breakthrough Swimming, Cecil Colwin has called upon all of his years of experience as a coach, teacher, historian, scientific analyst, writer and iconoclast to create a brilliant, comprehensive and eminently readable work of art. Colwin's unique insights make this book an absolute must-read for every serious swimmer, coach, and lover of the sport.

Breakthrough Swimming has reconfirmed Colwin as the dean of the world's swimming scholars.  — Phillip Whitten, Editor-in-Chief Sports Publications, Inc.

Cecil Colwin continues his major contributions to the thought processes of swimming in a fascinating book that gives meaning and relevance to a mountain of information.  — John Leonard, Executive Director, American Swimming Coaches' Association Editor, American Swimming Magazine

What a marvelous undertaking! Readers can use as much or as little of the information as one would want; those just beginning their careers can gain enough relevant data to get started on a correct course, while seasoned coaches and swimmers will certainly be challenged by the book's in-depth information.  — Paul Bergen, Member of the International Hall of Fame, Has coached 10 swimmers to 22 world records