Michael Phelps Swimming (Again) at 11-years old: 200 Free

Jeff Cooper, the man who brought us this homemade video of Michael Phelps’ pre-race routine that looked a whole lot at 11 like it does now, has dug up another video from the Cooper family archives of “that fast kid that we should probably record”.

Remember that these were before the days of YouTube; so if kids wanted examples to watch and imitate on video, they couldn’t just instantly pull up an hour of over-and-underwater footage of Gary Hall Jr. and Alexander Popov voiced over by Glenn Mills or Mel Stewart. They either had to track down someone who was selling VHS’ and wait a few weeks for delivery, or they had to find the fastest kid in their region, lug out the big box, point-and-shoot.

So that’s exactly what the Cooper family did.

Early on, you can hear a conversation between what we assume is Mrs. Cooper and another mom. One remarks that “if he keeps up that pace, he’s going to lap everyone” to which the response is “he breathes every stroke.”

At the time, breathing every stroke and to the same side was still pretty unusual in the United States, especially at the age group level, though it had taken on a lot of traction in places like Australia.

Remember that Phelps was coached by Bob Bowman for basically his entire swimming career, so there’s no huge stroke changes from 11 years old until 27 years old; he obviously became more technically proficient, but the same basic hallmarks are there.

The video is shot at the Naval Academy’s Lejune Hall pool; Cooper estimates his splits to have been:

30
1:03 … 33
1:38 … 35
2:13 … 35

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anonymous
5 years ago

I don’t know what is worse: people critiquing the technique of an 11 year old, or people critiquing the technique of an 11 year old who would become the best swimmer of all time.

Adam
7 years ago

I am 11 and my time for the 50 free is a 28.22. Is that good

Cian
Reply to  Adam
7 years ago

Myns also a 28 and im 12

fat
Reply to  Cian
6 years ago

hi demons

Parnia
Reply to  Adam
1 year ago

fast

Scott
7 years ago

IT says there’s no big stroke change, but his stroke today is the big, loping stroke with the undulation on his right arm as he swims. Maybe that’s not a big change because that’s just part of maturing/growing up and as a kid he didn’t have the strength for that type of stroke. IDK… I’d say that’s a pretty big change though.

musa khan
9 years ago

i love to swinmming

DRUKSTOP
10 years ago

I would love to see that.. But I just can’t see it happening. 2:02 is my guess.

C Martin
Reply to  DRUKSTOP
10 years ago

Yes, it’s a long shot (and it is still very early to tell whether he will, as he is still miles away from it), but I believe it is possible. Chuck Batchelor runs a great distance program up at Bluefish and I’m sure they can make it happen.

Bossanova
10 years ago

He’s definitely circle swimming.

C Martin
Reply to  Bossanova
10 years ago

Not just circle swimming, but his body isn’t pointing straight towards the wall (in other words, he’s not swimming parallel to the lane lines). His general direction is pointing more towards the corner of the pool than anywhere else.

liquidassets
Reply to  C Martin
10 years ago

Yes, exactly! He swam crooked, more toward the corner with every stroke, until he saw the lane line, then he would take several larger strokes with the right arm and back off with the left arm until he was self-corrected, then start the crooked cycle again. Amazing that he could dominate with such a lopsided stroke!! I’m trying to remember, did he have some scoliosis?? Someone on the U.S. team did but I can’t remember if it was him or not.

C Martin
10 years ago

Is it just me or does it look like he is swimming crooked (or at least his body position is pointed towards the lane line diagonally)?

Steve Nolan
Reply to  C Martin
10 years ago

I thought I saw something like that happening whenever he breathed, but then thought it might be the angle of the writing on his cap.

Liliana
10 years ago

He was so skinny as a child, not sure if that’s common for age group swimmers or it was just him.

bobo gigi
Reply to  Liliana
10 years ago

Compare with Carson above if you want. He’s 11.

Liliana
Reply to  bobo gigi
10 years ago

it’s obvious he’s skinnier than Carson, no doubt about it.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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