The Danes have been experiencing great success on the international stage as of late with Rikke Moller Pedersen setting the 200 breaststroke world record, Jeanette Ottesen winning the world championship title in the 50 butterfly and Lotte Friis having outstanding swims collecting two silver medals in the 800 and 1500 freestyle events in Barcelona.
They are now looking to ensure that success continues with their next generation of swimming hopefuls and one of the ways is through developing a new screening program that combines the expertise of the Danish talent developer Michael Hinge and physiotherapist Jacob Iversen.
This program was tested this weekend with four athletes. The program is unique and is focused on the individual, looking at how their physical make up may be effecting their technically abilities, rather than using guess work and basing the athlete’s technical development on a standard model.
“This weekend it was a question, primarily, about getting a thought made into action. In cooperation with Jacob Iversen it will result in a screening protocol that is based on the physical and biomechanical constraints or challenges of each individual swimmer,” Hinge stated in an interview with the Danish Swimming Federation.
“The feedback thus takes into account the individual athlete. From this starting point, we are pretty sure to find valuable parameters to change in the individual swimmer rather than rely on a model that does not serve the individual. It sounds a little wacky, but actually we do not find a similar setup anywhere, so it’s pretty interesting.”
Hinge also provided an example of how they would use the new system, “For example, if a swimmer can not make the “high elbow” it may be because he is too tight in the shoulder, or too quiet in the shoulder, and can not rotate up. What we find in the physical screening, placed on top of the video, and we conclude from there.”
After the athletes have gone through this screening process the hope is that it can provide their coaches with a tool that will enhance their ability to develop the athlete’s technique and prevent injury.