in 1938, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) almost banned the first type of butterfly, and the second type was banned from breaststroke.
Thus, in breaststroke competitions, it was allowed to use the classic breaststroke and the hybrid breaststroke-butterfly. However, the “pure butterfly” continued to develop, and the superiority in speed over the breaststroke of both types of butterfly (pure and hybrid breaststroke butterfly), led to the fact that on January 1, 1953, FINA singled out the butterfly as a separate type of swimming and allowed it to be used in competitions. according to him, not only a hybrid of the breaststroke-butterfly, but also a pure butterfly. And having set a world record on May 31, 1953, the Hungarian György Tumpek demonstrated the clear advantage of the latter over the hybrid. In breaststroke competitions, only the classic breaststroke was allowed to be used. World records in breaststroke at the time of the separation were "reset" to the level of 1935, and the first world record holder of the "updated" breaststroke was the Soviet swimmer Vladimir Minashkin, whose time in the 100-meter race was six seconds more than the world record before the butterfly separation. Minashkin was one of the founders of the “underhand breaststroke”, in which the arm stroke began before the legs of the previous cycle were completed, that is, the sliding phase was skipped. Style with this feature later, in the 1960s-1970s. was predominant.
In the early 1950s the high efficiency of breaststroke swimming under water with long strokes of the arms to the hips was noticed. The Japanese Masaru Furukawa, who, after the start and every turn, most distance from wall to wall swam under water, since 1954 he began to dominate in all major competitions, set a whole series of world records and won gold at the 1956 Olympics. A similar technique was used by other world-class breaststrokers, including Kharis Yunichev, who in 1956 won the first Olympic medal in the history of Soviet swimming - bronze in the 200-meter breaststroke.[8] In this regard, at the congress in Melbourne on May 1, 1957, ATHENA limited the distance swum under water after the start and each turn, allowing only one stroke to the hips and one normal cycle, prescribing the ascent no later than the second cycle. For the rest of the distance, according to the new rules, part of the head had to be above the water all the time. The same congress decided to record world records only in 50-meter pools.
1960s are characterized by certain differences in the technique of the two breaststroke schools - "Western" (primarily Australian and American) and "European" (primarily Soviet). The former sought to avoid excessive vertical movement of the shoulders, while at the same time trying to keep the body as high and straight as possible. The heels had to be as close to the surface of the water as possible during both the pull and the kick. Representatives of the European, especially the Soviet, school allowed and even encouraged vertical movements of the shoulders and torso in the natural rhythm of the cycle.
Another significant change in the rules was made on February 15, 1987. From that time on, part of the head need not be constantly above the water (see the 1957 rule above), the requirement was for the head to cross the surface of the water during each cycle. This gave impetus to the emergence of two new styles of breaststroke: "wavy" (English "undulating") and "wave" (English "wave-style"). The first of them brings the swimmer's movements closer to those of a dolphin, but requires extreme flexibility. Currently, these two styles and “traditional” are often noted as types of breaststroke, to which the varieties of 1957-1987 are classified.
2000s marked by the rapid growth in the popularity of the "wave" style, it is adopted by many participants in the Olympic Games. At the Olympics in Athens, disputes arose after the victory of the Japanese Kosuke Kitajima in the 100-meter breaststroke. American backstroke swimmer Aaron Pearsol accused the Japanese of cheating - a "dolphin" kick during the "underwater" post-start section, while the rules there only allow a stroke with hands to the hips and a "breaststroke" cycle. The judges did not have access to underwater footage during the competition and, unlike the spectators, could not see the violations. In the end, the Japanese result was not annulled, but the FINA technical congress at a meeting during the World Swimming Championships in Montreal in July 2005 changed the rules to allow one "dolphin" strike during full immersion after the start and each turn to be followed "breaststroke cycle.
EQUIPMENT
The equipment of a breaststroke swimmer does not differ from the equipment of swimmers in other styles, it is a cap, goggles, swimming trunks (men), a one-piece swimsuit (women), or a wetsuit. Wetsuits have been used in major competitions since the early 2000s. There are several types of wetsuits: a neck-to-ankle suit (eng. bodyskin or full), a suit from the neck to the knees (eng. kneeskin or full-knee), wet pants (men, eng. legskin or pants-long), shorts for swimming (men, English pants-short). Previously, all four types of synthetic wetsuits were allowed. Since 2010, FINA has imposed restrictions, banning synthetics in suits and only allowing textiles. Moreover, by January 2010, FINA allowed women to wear only one-piece swimsuits and neck-to-knee suits without back zippers, while men only allowed swimming trunks and shorts.
SWIMMING TECHNIQUE BRASS
Hand movements
They are divided into three phases: outward stroke, inward stroke and return. The cycle starts with an outward stroke. First, the hands sink deeper into the water, then spread their palms outward to the sides from each other. The arms are practically not bent and parallel to the surface of the water. Then follows the stroke inside. The hands turn palms down and push the water back. The movement continues to about shoulder level. After that, the palms close in front of the chest, elbows on the sides of the body. In the return phase, the hands again go forward to the starting position. The whole cycle begins with a slow movement of the arms, then the speed increases and reaches a maximum in the inward stroke phase, then decreases again in the return phase. The main task is to create the maximum driving moment with the stroke inward and minimum resistance on return.
Alternatively, you can return your hands to their original position above the water. This reduces water resistance, but requires more effort. In speed competitions, some swimmers prefer this option.
Another movement option is to extend the phase of the stroke with your hands to the very hips, much like they do in a butterfly. In this way, each stroke can be significantly strengthened, but it will become more difficult to return the hands to their original position. Usually this method is used for swimming underwater. The FINA Swimming Federation allows this stroke to be used only once after the start of the swimmer and after each turn at the side. Also, in 2005, a new rule was introduced, according to which you can use one stroke with your legs in a vertical plane (as in a butterfly) after a push from the wall.
Advice
Hands should start moving at a low speed and then gradually accelerate. The movement does not stop until the athlete has moved forward in the recovery phase.
Leg movements
At the time of the stroke with the hands (to compensate for the resistance of the water), both legs are simultaneously pulled up. The feet should be spread much wider (about 2 times) than the knees, after which a push is performed with both legs - at this moment the arms are extended forward, and at the end of the cycle, the athlete slides in the water for some time, fully extended for the least resistance with water (time slip can vary greatly).
There is another technique: to use a vertical movement of the legs as in the freestyle. FINA rules prohibit the use of this method in professional sports.
In training, it is allowed to use a wave-like stroke with legs as in a butterfly, but this is not allowed in competitions. Athletes are allowed only one such stroke after the start or turn at the side, if they are more comfortable with this method.
Breath
In the breaststroke, the head completely follows the movement of the spine. At the moment when the hands move down the body, a support is created in order to raise the head above the water. Inhale should be through the mouth, exhale through the nose and mouth during the entire subsequent movement until the next breath. To increase speed, you can not surface every time, but according to FINA rules, the head must cross the surface of the water in each cycle of movements, with the exception of the first cycle after the start or turn at the side.
Sometimes inexperienced swimmers try to keep their head above the water all the time without lowering it. This is not only difficult and uncomfortable, but also dangerous for the spine. Excessive tension in the muscles of the neck and back can cause displacement in the joints of the spine.
body movements
In the starting position, the body is fully extended. Then it moves in such a way that the legs are ready for a push in the middle of the movement with the arms "toward itself", and the head is above the water for breathing by this moment. In this position, the angle of the torso to the horizontal is maximum. Hands return to the starting position at the same time as the stroke with the legs. After the stroke, the body remains straight for some