**Horizontal Body Line: How to Give Yourself the “Opportunity for Speed”**

GoSwim has been lucky enough to work with one athlete who’s already punched his ticket to Paris (Greek swimmer Kristian Golomeev) and two athletes (David Curtiss of the US and Andi Murez of Israel) who will soon compete at their countries’ Olympic Trials. This week we look at something they have in common (horizontal body line) and what they do to “own” that all important technique – what David Curtiss calls “the opportunity for speed.”

GEMINI QUESTIONS:

Which will allow for a faster freestyle velocity in swimming, a bodyline that is 6° off the horizontal surface of the water, or a body that is 3° off the horizontal surface of the water?

In the context of freestyle swimming, there's negligible difference in speed between a bodyline 5° off horizontal and 3° off horizontal. Here's why:

*   **Focus on Streamline:** The key to faster freestyle velocity is maintaining a streamlined body position. This minimizes drag and allows you to glide effortlessly through the water.
*   **Minor Angle Difference:** The 2° difference between 3° and 6° is a very small angle in the grand scheme of swimming technique. It wouldn't significantly impact your overall drag or body position.

**Monday**

**David Curtiss - Body Balance**

Whether he’s racing the 50 free or swimming easy, David Curtiss has one over-riding focus: maintaining a horizontal bodyline. Once you’re in that line, THEN you have the opportunity for speed.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/3337-03-dc-body-balance> 

05.89 - create the 3° and 6° angles

07.14 look at the horizontal line with David arm compared to the lane line

08.11 same line of the arm with the left arm

12.78 Head slightly underwater

19.58 had completely underwater

32.35 balanced bodyline

45.83 head completely underwater

**Tuesday**

**David Curtiss – Body Balance Rotation**

More angles showing David Curtiss’s awareness of bodyline.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/3379-04-dc-body-balance-rotation> 

09.23 eyes looking down

15.47 Head completely underwater

16.40 had completely underwater

28.65 narrow Circle to swim through

29.53 narrow body

**Wednesday**

**David Curtiss: DC Talks Breath Timing**

Glenn uses the GoSwim app to look at how David Curtiss handles balance and breathing. This is something every swimmer can learn to do with the app.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/3496-dc-talks-breath-timing> 

**3.2 video**

03.61 up to air

05.29 up to air

05.54 frame forward

05.78 had completely underwater

06.99 up to air

07.47 Focus on how long David was out of position

14.27 Watch David’s right hand as he goes up to air

14.98 hand extends forward does not fall

15.98 handed set up in a downward position ready for the rotation

16.64 hand going back with rotation of body

30.23 some downward press at the beginning of the catch

38.25 Focus on how long David was out of position

51.74 Focus on David’s face

**Thursday**

**Andi Murez: Low Breath and Breathing Pattern**

Israeli sprinter Andi Murez experiments with her freestyle breathing: One or two goggles in? Quick return to center relaxed return? Hold in some air or let it out? Watch till the end to see how an elite sprinter experiments.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/3180-andi-murez-low-breath-and-breathing-pattern> 

06.53 start in balance position 

10.34 look at that position during the breath

12.61 look at the head position during the breath

12.90 look at the fast return of the head

40.00 try to figure out when she gets there

45.33 getting air

**Friday**

**Andi Murez: Position-11 Balance**

Israeli sprinter Andi Murez understands that mastering balance and a horizontal bodyline gives you the opportunity for speed. Here’s how she works on balance.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/3172-andi-position-11-balance> 

11.74 Great balance

15.16 playing with balance

20.10 playing with rotation

26.42 pressing down to balance

30.85 overloading balance

38.57 Home position

40.12 playing with rotation

44.99 overloading balance

49.89 pressing down to balance

102.24 Home position

111.76 starting a swim in position 11 

121.43 position 11 swim

135.80 returning to home position between strokes

**Saturday**

**Kristian Gkolomeev: Back-Tap Drill**

Greek sprinter Kristian Golomeev shows us a different twist on Andi Murez’s Position-11 Balance drill.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/2238-freestyle-back-tap-dril060824> 

04.47 sideline balance

04.73 overloading balance

05.22 lowering the hand

05.66 connecting the arms and body

06.63 overloading balance

07.20 returning the hand

07.82 connecting the arm in the body

15.04 overloading balance

16.03 lowering the hand

16.94 connection

21.52 upper and lower arm connection

47.69 loading the arm

54.87 loading the arm

**Sunday**

**Kristian Gkolomeev: Body Balance-Alternating Sweeping Arms**

Greek Olympian Kristian Golomeev demos another drill for maintaining stability and balance while moving the arms in an alternating, swim-like way.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/2250-body-balance-alternating-sweeping-arms> 

04.50 balance body

06.64 slicing hands

08.78 alternate position

10.89 sweeping the hands without moving the body

22.49 keeping a soft touch on the water while maintaining balance

48.97 maintaining complete control

**Kristian videos**

**Body Balance - Freestyle arms**

**Body Balance - Backstroke Arms**

**Snow Angel on Your Stomach**

**Body Balance - 360 Rotation**


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June 4, 2024 - Horizontal Bodyline - Freestyle