IN THE DEEP END

by Rebecca Lee - 19.08.08

As the new Olympic event, the 10k Open Water swim, takes place tomorrow 20th for the women’s event and Thursday 21st for the men’s event, GB’s swimming prospects will be moving from the pool to the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park as they take up the challenge in the deep end.

With currents, deep water and no lanes to swim in the 10k open water swim is not for the faint-hearted. EIS Physiologist Dr. Mike Peyrebrune has been working with the British swimmers in preparation for their new challenge.

“In preparation for the new event, a number of our excellent pool swimmers (David Davies, Olympic Bronze 2004; Keri-Anne Payne & Cassie Patten, both previous European Short Course Champions) decided to try this new Olympic race and embarked on a programme to help maximise their potential” says Peyrebrune.

The challenges of the event are very different to those posed in the pool, so athletes took to the open water straight away to gain experience and familiarise themselves with the conditions. With a greater swimming distance to cover, athletes have been increasing the distance they swim in training and in some cases it’s been up to around 10,000 metres per week.

“There’s a lot of body contact in the water, and although it is illegal, there is some pulling, hitting and kicking going on so it can get rough” explains Peyrebrune. “It is a bit of a ‘scrum’ to swim round marker buoys, which will be a big issue in Beijing as the first one is only about 300 metres from the start. Climate will play a bigger part than it does in the pool, but the water here in Beijing is close to that experienced in the pool (26 C), unlike the temperatures they will experience in London!”

Tactics also play a key role in the 10k swim, with athletes fighting to get ahead and overtake others as Peyrebrune explains;

“Like drafting in cycling, it can be up to 15% more efficient swimming behind someone rather than leading. Clearly, the energy saving benefits of swimming behind at least one swimmer are obvious. Most swimmers have a sprint at the start to get into ‘clear’ water and avoid contact with other swimmers. Then there is a long steady middle with the occasional breakaway and a mad sprint in the last 500m. Swimmers must spot the pad which is dropped down in the water, stretch up to it and touch it at the finish.”

It’s not just tactics which swimmers have to look out for either, the current (created by the wind around the course) also comes into play and will affect their performance; “The water is rougher in open water than in the pool and so more difficult to get into a good rhythm. Every 10-20 strokes they need to look up and ensure they are still going in a straight line- which is harder than you think! Like sailing, you can ‘drift’ off course” said Peyrebrune.

The new event will pose athletes a new combination of challenges, which has led to additional preparations for athletes to cope with aspects of the competition. Physiology can help identify ways in which to prepare the body for a range of factors, from everything from the pace of the race to the climate of the water. Along with other EIS support staff like Dr Peyrebrune, EIS Physiotherapist Emma Deakin will be supporting the team both in the preparation of the swimmers and recovery after the event. 

British Swimming utilise a range of EIS support services for athletes both in the lead region, the East Midlands, as well as other regions where athletes are based around the country.

Photography © Getty Images