Swimming: Breaststroke

SWIMMING INSTRUCTION: THE BREASTSTROKE

The traditional breaststroke underwent radical transformation, leading to a bitter controversy, at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.

Swimmers had gradually come to understand that they could decrease their lap times by surfacing less often to breathe, because breaking the surface dramatically increases the coefficient of friction between their bodies against the water, thereby adding unnecessary resistance.(Wipkedia)

Several breaststroke competitors were disqualified that year for swimming much of their laps entirely submerged. In order to get around the rule prohibiting extensive underwater swimming, competitors quickly learned to remain submerged as long as possible after the start, before breaking the surface for the first time. As competitors perfected the technique originally pioneered by Masaru Furukawa, swimmers began losing consciousness completely, while attempting to swim as far as possible before breaking the water surface for the first time after the official start of the race....
[ View Full Essay]