Darra Torres Breathing and Recovery
by Terry Laughlin
This photo was taken during Torres anchor leg on the US silver medal 4×100 free relay. Several things worth noticing:
1) "Risky" breath, as Emmett Hines calls it. Lower goggle and mouth riskily near the surface.
2) Recovery. Three aspects of recovery shown here are as taught in Lesson 5 of the new Easy Freestyle DVD
1) Elbow is outside shoulder and bodyline, which ensures that elbow and hand move in a more-or-less-straight line from exit to entry, avoiding sideways movements which divert momentum.
2) Hand is relaxed – indicated by loosely spread fingers. This saves energy and "muscle work" for when that hand enters the water and begins the next stroke.
3) Forearm and hand are angled for a Mail Slot entry — which will keep the water "clean" for her next catch and help connect the power of her right-hip-drive to the right-hand-spear.