Breathing Exercises to Improve Freestyle

I have a hard time swimming more than 3-lengths freestyle at a time in a 25-yard pool. I have to stop to catch my breath after the 3rd. Are there any breathing exercises to improve freestyle? Physically I have no other problems. I am 82 and have not smoked since 1956. I swim at least 3-days a week.

There are 2 types of breathing technique for freestyle; explosive and trickle breathing. Both techniques are correct and it is your own preference as to which you choose to do. You will find one easier than the other.

Explosive breathing is arguably the most difficult and exhaustive as the breath is held during the stroke. When the head is rolled to the side to breathe, you have to exhale sharply and then instantly inhale again, all in the short second that the head is turned and the arm is out of the way.

Breathing holding itself is difficult and tiring. Add the physical act of explosive breathing to it and you can become tired quite quickly.

Trickle breathing is as it suggests, exhaling a slow trickle of air whilst swimming the stroke. As the air is expelled and you need to breathe again, rolling the head to the side to inhale is more comfortable. This is because you only have to inhale at the point the head is turned and you have more time in which to get enough air to continue.

This type of breathing is as natural as it gets in the water and so therefore requires less energy.

Freestyle swimming is physically hard work and is a great form of aerobic exercise. Everyone gets breathless at some point. Take a look at other aspects of your technique. Make sure your body position is horizontal and streamlined and that your arm technique stretches forward through the water to make your strokes longer. All this will make your swimming stroke more efficient and therefore easier.

Our eBook 'The Complete Guide to Swimming Front Crawl' contains over 20 separate exercises to help correct all parts of your freestyle swimming technique. You can print out the exercises you need and take them to your pool to try out. The exercises are very clear and easy to follow and you can download them instantly. Click the link below for more details.

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