Have you ever watched a world class swimmer on video? It’s as if they have gumby feet, acting like flippers pushing them through the water. You may have heard, or believe, that your kick is not a huge part of your Ironman swim stroke. This is true relative to a flat-out pool race, but if you can give yourself a strong and efficient kick it will most definitely benefit your longer triathlon swims and leave you fresher coming out of the water. Obviously training your kick in the water is step #1, but working the foot and ankle flexibility while you’re at work or lying in bed will do wonders for the efficiency of each kick as you push down through the water.
Take a look at this video. Unfortunately it won’t allow us to embed it directly into this tip but it is certainly worth your time to grab a quick peak. At approximately 45 seconds in to the video, watch how his ankles wip around like fins on a flipper: Michael Phelps Swim Kick
How to stretch them?
-Sit on your ankles,
-Pull your toes downward with your hands
-Stick your feet under your couch and lean back
A strong kick is a very important part of your swim stroke. Not only for propulsion, but keeping your body horizontal in the water as well.
