Swim Like a Pro
How To Swim Faster: A Holistic Training Guide
Fares Ksebati
Copyright 2021 by Fares Ksebati
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Edited and formatted by L. Austen Johnson
Swim Like a Pro BONUS Video Course
I truly believe that the best way to learn something is through multiple touch points. Thats why I created an online video course that corresponds with this book.
I have created a unique video for each chapter that will aid in your learning. Youll be able to see and hear my explanation for each concept and stroke technique in this book. Seeing a visual representation of each concept can make all the difference in how fast you make progress, so I highly recommend you join the online course.
You can get started right away by visiting swimlikeapro.org or by opening the camera app on your phone. Hold your phone over the QR code below. Your phone will automatically direct you to the website where you can follow the instructions to unlock all the video content.
Preface
A Love Letter To Swimming
The feeling of weightlessness is unlike anything Ive experienced in my life. When Im swimming, it feels like I've entered a different world. Its as if Ive been transported to another dimension. The worlds problems just disappear, and I become one with the water.
Its Magical.
When I first dive in, all my senses awaken, and I experience something that transcends imagination. The water tingles along my skin, bringing my senses to life. I hear the molecules of water echoing inside my eardrum as I submerge below the surface. I can smell the water, fresh and natural, and even get a little taste with my lips.
Its truly a one-of-a-kind experience, and nothing else will engage all my senses like the feeling of being in water. After all, we as humans are 60% water, so its a bit like coming home. But theres something more to this experience than becoming one with the water, a medium that covers most of the worlds surface area. Theres something about the feeling of weightlessness that is special, and it is this feeling that is one of the many joys the sport of swimming offers humanity.
Think of your body as a vessel. When you start to swim, every part of your body works together to move your vessel forward. Some body parts and energy systems work harder than others. Your heart beats faster to pump blood to your muscles, while your stomach slows down because digestion is no longer a priority.
After about two minutes, your body realizes that youre not stopping anytime soon and goes into aerobic respiration. Your body starts to supply even more oxygen to your muscles. Your heart beats faster and stronger to circulate this oxygenated blood through your body!
Our brains love swimming too! The extra blood and oxygen circulating help you become more alert, awake, and focused. When we swim, our brain releases endorphins, natural, feel good hormones. When you swim, your mind can be just as engaged as your body, and as a result, your future self will thank you.
There is no question that swimming is the best all-around form of physical fitness for all. Its the only form of physical activity that you can do from cradle to grave. The water has no racial, national, or religious boundaries. Young, old, rich, poor, from anywhere around the world, we are all working towards the same goals.
Together we share a passion for the water. Whether you swim for sport, physical fitness, or mental health, whether you swim in a pool, lake, river, the sea, or the ocean, we are all in this together!
Its that feeling of weightlessness, competitive spirit, and pushing ourselves further and faster! Its the positive endorphins we feel after reaching the wall, crossing the finish line, or looking in the mirror knowing youre a badass for diving in and taking on the world!
This is why I swim!
Since my early childhood, I developed a great passion for the water. The freedom and enjoyment we experience as swimmers is often hard to describe. My experience in the water has empowered me to help others realize this same feeling of freedom.
I believe through structured guidance, data, and social interaction, we are all just one day away from realizing our full potential! Aquatic prowess is the epiphany of reaching your full potential in the water.
In 2015, I launched MySwimPro, a fitness app to help swimmers all over the world improve their performance and health. The idea for the app was to have a personalized swim coaching experience at a fraction of the cost of hiring a coach. MySwimPro has grown to over one million community members. Our mission is to democratize swimming by making improvement easier and more accessible to all swimmers.
Through the development of this global swimming business, Ive had the opportunity to speak with thousands of swimmers around the world about their goals, fears, and dreams in the sport. Ive interviewed dozens of olympians, world record holders, and industry experts on everything from strength training to nutrition.
Ive written thousands of personalized workouts and training plans for swimmers with highly diverse backgrounds and goals. The results are absolutely incredible! From helping people lose over 100lbs to crossing the finish line at their very first triathlon, the impact has been palpable.
Before launching MySwimPro, I coached both age-group and masters swimmers. I truly enjoyed the opportunity to help people improve their techniques and reach their goals. After the 2016 Olympic Trials, I transitioned to coaching only masters swimmers to allocate more time to growing MySwimPro. Its an amazing experience to share the knowledge I have gained as a former collegiate swimmer with people of all skills and experience levels.
As a swimmer myself, I still compete in masters competitions, open water races, and in triathlons. Ive competed in the FINA Masters World Championships, swam from Asia to Europe in the Bosphorus Cross Continental swim, and am a 3x U.S. Masters swimming individual national champion. Im always on the lookout for the next swimming adventure, and in this book, Ill tie in relevant stories for added flavor and entertainment.
This book is the culmination of over a decade of on-deck coaching experience, 20+ years competitive swimming knowledge, and over five years building the largest digital swimming community in the world!
I am incredibly excited to package all this knowledge into one book that takes a holistic approach to helping swimmers reach their goals. Please also visit swimlikeapro.org for this books special online companion course that is filled with instructional technique videos and other resources to help you swim smarter.
This is THE most comprehensive way to swim faster and smarter than ever before. There is only one question I have for you:
Are you ready to swim like a pro?
Contents
What Happens to Your Body When You Swim
The Physics of Swimming
How to Write a Swim Workout
Technique 101
Freestyle