In this strange period, under the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, we do not get to see a lot of elite swimming competitions. Fortunately in Italy at 57° Trofeo Settecolli we saw some good and amazing results.
We already spoke about Benedetta Pilato and her incredible world junior record in 50m breaststroke.
Another crazy race was the men’s 1500m free where Italian Gregorio Paltrinieri broke a new European record in 14:33.10.
Paltrinieri at the 2019 FINA World Championships finished third with a time of 14.38.75. Florian Wellbrock won the final with 14:36.54.
All of the analysis below is under the context that Paltrinieri earlier this year began training with a new coach, Fabrizio Antonelli. Antonelli is best known as an open water coach, where Paltrinieri has been improving, but says that he is still passionate about the 1500 free in the pool.
- See also: When the Turns Matter: The Gwangju Men’s 1500 Free Podium Analysis
European record – THE RACE’S ANALYSIS
The race analysis, available to download by clicking the link below the image, shows us an extraordinary consistency. If you check the split for first 750 meters and the second 750 meters, the times are: 7:16.26 and 7:16.84. If you check the three 500 meters individually the times are 4:50.19, 4:51.97 and 4:50.94… amazing.
Stroke rate (or stroke tempo if you prefer) and stroke length are clearly consistent.
So, what we can say about such a race? Nothing, just a standing ovation. Just to remind you that the World Record is not far away at 14:31.02
But…
The comparison between this data and the analysis of the same race at the Gwangju 2019 World Championships last summer shows us something interesting.
At first, we can note that Paltrinieri improved a lot in the swimming part and he got worse a bit in the turns. During the ‘above water’ swimming portion of his swim at Sette Colli , the sum of every phase from 15 to 45 meters of every length is 8”15 seconds faster than the sum of the same in Korea at the World Championships. From 5 to 15 meters in Rome he is faster by 1”96 seconds than in Korea, but in the turn, from 5 meters before the wall to 5 meters after the wall, he lost 4”52 seconds.
It is remarkably interesting to study what changed in the amazing swimming part: the average of the stroke rate increased a bit from 43.7 to 44.92 cycles per minute and the distance per stroke decreased from 226.3 to 223.6 cm per cycle. Apart from those parameters it looks like he found a better balance, continuity and fluidity in his swimming.
These parameters become important when we compare them with the gold and silver medals in Gwangju, Florian Wellbrock and Mykhailo Romanchuk
Paltrinieri in Rome swam absolutely faster than himself but above all than the other two guys in Korea, the gap is huge. Unfortunately, Paltrinieri’s turns got worse than Korea like we already said. In Korea Paltrinieri’s turns were already slower than other two swimmers. The main difference in the turns related to the other swimmers was the leaving of the wall. At the Settecolli, what got worse is fairly split in the approach and in the leaving of the wall, 5 meters before and after the wall.
I think Paltrinieri’s coach has a lot of thoughts about these issues.
… what if…
Just in theory, maybe in fantasy, but what if Paltrinieri was able to repeat the same turns from Korea? we already said that the turns were not the best ones. Swimming is not math but if we use math Paltrinieri should be able to destroy the world record.
I don’t want to write the time but it could be something incredible… easy to calculate.
This story comes courtesy of STEFANO NURRA 
- Analyst of Turkish Swimming Federation
- Analyst of Energy Standard
- Owner and Founder of Swim Lab
Great analysis, from what I could see how impressive he maintained the speed In swimming part by playing with DPS and stroke rate.
However there was a big fluctuations to the speed 5m before the wall, and speed after the wall, it would have made a massive difference to smash that WR if he could maintain it
Paltriniei’s stroke is the craziest thing I have seen in professional swimming in…ever. I do not understand how he goes so fast. Legs crossing over each other on every single kick? Left arm sweeping out to the side? Right hand that comes in right in front of his head and seems to adjust immediately upon entry? I would never teach a kid to swim that way. Yet he is the best in the world, somehow.
Sometimes professionals have a “bad” technique, that’s almost funny to consider that based on how fast they are. I felt the same when Chad Le Clos passed Phelps in 2012.
They are the exceptions to the rules of technique that 99/100 people should follow. If anyone else tried to swim the the way they did they wouldn’t go as fast. They figured out what works for them but people shouldn’t try to emulate them
maybe a crowd, competition, and him knowing he’s basically on world record pace could do the trick.
A hammer…..
Syringes is what he needs… ask the wr holder
He’s missing Whatever’s in those smashed vials
Stay and swim on top of the black line.
Turns and a finishing kick.