Written by Coach Gunther
Long course swimming is
considered by most professional coaches and high level athletes to be a true
test of swimming ability and a more pure form of racing. Short course swimmers learn to rely on
power and speed often at the expense of endurance
and technique. Since long course racing requires half
the turns per race, distance per stroke, efficiency, and endurance become
crucial elements to swimming success. Swimmers face the need to hold
their speed for greater distances in long course racing. As a result, long
course competition will present challenges to an athlete that short course racing
doesn't offer.
