by S. Kenneth Shishir
Swimming is a great recreational activity for people of all ages. Recreational swimming can provide you with a low-impact workout and it’s also a good way to relax and feel good.
Some people who enjoy swimming want to take it to a competitive level. This can provide health benefits of a vigorous workout as well as the fun and thrill of competition.
Meet Sundaresh Satyanarayana, Swimming coach of Team India and Karnataka State Sports Director for Special Olympics, a resident of J.P. Nagar in city who trains swimmers taking part in competitions.
Sundaresh is a qualified swimming coach from Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS), Sports Authority of India. He also has an additional degree from Michael Phelps Swim School, USA.
Speaking about his early days, Sundaresh said that he first entered the water at the age of nine when the University of Mysore had organised a free swimming camp and added that from that day onwards it was only swimming, swimming and swimming.
His love for swimming earned him many laurels in many levels.
After completing his primary schooling at Jagadamba Shishuvihar in city, he joined St. Thomas School in Vishweshwara Nagar and completed his middle school and later joined Sarada Vilas institutions where he completed his High School and PU studies. He later graduated at NIE College of Science in city.
Sundaresh, after completing his graduation, took up a job as a technical staff of printing section at HCL HP. But as he wanted to achieve at higher levels in swimming and wanting to train young talents in swimming, he quit his job in the year 1999 and joined NSNIS-SAI, Bangalore, for graduation in swimming.
After graduation in swimming, he joined AIR Bangalore and Mysore as a Correspondent on contract basis. In the year 2000, he was appointed as a swimming coach for Deccan Gymkhana in Pune and in the year 2001, he was appointed as a coach at Sports Authority of Karnataka (SAK), Bangalore.
He was then posted to Davangere where SAK had constructed a pool which gave him a challenge to prepare new swimming talents from zero level.
Speaking about swimming and swimmers in city, Sundaresh said that the city requires at least four or five swimming pools as the University of Mysore swimming pool is the only pool in the city which is catering to the needs of public at present.
He said that all the swimming activities like training, competitions and others are concentrated only in Bangalore and added that there are grounds for athletics, volley ball courts, skating rinks and tennis court all over the State but there are a handful swimming pools in the State.
He said that though there is a handful or no pools throughout the State, still Karnataka stands at number one spot in National levels and added that maximum swimmers in the country who represented in international levels were trained by talented coaches in Karnataka.
He regretted that swimming coaches were being paid a meagre sum as salaries which is not even sufficient for a square meal a day.
Speaking about swimming, Sundaresh said that swimming is a healthy sport which is certified by World Health Organisation (WHO).
He further said that swimming is a healthy, low-cost activity that you can continue throughout the life and added that swimming is a low-impact activity that has many physical and mental health benefits.
Swimming is a great workout because one needs to move the whole body against the resistance of the water, he said and added that swimming is a great way to keep fit, stay healthy and make friends.
Organised swimming began in the 1800s and 1900s with the creation of Swimming Associations and Clubs that competed against each other. Competitive swimming continued to grow in popularity during 1800s and was included in the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. In 1904, the Olympics in St. Louis included the 50-yard, 100-yard, 220-yard, 440-yard, 880-yard and one-mile freestyle, the 100-yard backstroke and 440-yard breaststroke and a 4×50-yard freestyle relay.
Women took part in swimming for the first time in the Olympic Games at Stockholm in 1912 and Johnny Weissmuller (of Tarzan movies fame) became the first person to swim 100 meters in less than one minute. In India, G.S. Nair of Kerala was the person to swim 100 mts below one minute.
Breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly, and crawl (freestyle) are the most popular swim strokes. The breaststroke and butterfly are more difficult to learn than the backstroke and crawl. Sundaresh said that though Butterfly stroke is difficult, it is the easiest stroke to master.
He said that like the breaststroke, butterfly stroke is a difficult stroke and not recommended for beginners because it requires perfect timing and a good deal of strength. During the stroke, the legs move together in a dolphin kick, the arms move together to push the water downward and backward, and the torso undulates like an earthworm as the body moves forward through the water.
The backstroke is easier than the butterfly or breaststroke and similar to the crawl in that you use an alternate windmill arm stroke and flutter kick. Two keys to a proper backstroke are that your arms move with equal strength, otherwise you will swim off to one side, and that your body rolls from side to side so that your arms catch enough water to propel you forward.
The crawl or the freestyle is the most popular stroke and the easiest for beginners to learn. It is a simple flutter kick and windmill arm motion, like the backstroke, only on your belly. The most difficult part is coordinating the breathing since your face is in the water most of the time.
Sundaresh said that swimming also provides health benefits as swimming is a great workout because one needs to move the whole body against the resistance of the water, keeps the heart rate up but takes some of the impact stress off the body, builds endurance, muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness, helps maintain a healthy weight, healthy heart and lungs, tones muscles and builds strength and provides an all-over body workout, as nearly all the muscles are used during swimming.
Providing some general tips, Sundaresh said that before one dives into the water, make sure you know how to swim, choose a safe environment (stay away from rives and lakes with crocodiles in it), warm up and stretch your muscles and joints before entering the water, have plenty of fluids on hand and drink regularly, don’t overdo it if you’re just starting out and see a doctor if you haven’t exercised for a long time.
Speaking about equipments needed to swim, he said that one will need a swimsuit. Like many other things, technology has entered the swimsuit arena as well. Fabrics are designed for minimal resistance through the water, they tend to last a long time, and they resist fading even when used repeatedly in chlorinated pools. Of course, not all of us would be comfortable in the skimpy suits that you see Olympians wear, but the good news is that you can also find more modest suits at sporting stores.
The bottom line to a swimsuit is to select one that’s comfortable. You’re less likely to swim if you’re uncomfortable in your suit, he said.
Goggles protect your eyes from chlorine, and they help you keep your eyes open while you swim so that you can see where you’re going. You can even get prescription swim goggles if you wear glasses.
Swim caps can serve several purposes. Some pool managers will require individuals with long hair to wear caps to keep hair from getting into the pool, and some people just like to protect their hair from the chlorine in the water. You may also decide to wear a bathing cap to cut down on resistance in the water. This really works, and so if you’re looking to increase your time a bit, a bathing cap might help. Many caps are made of latex, although you can find silicone, neoprene (keeps you warm) and Lycra as well. Choose the one that fits your head and is most comfortable.
Some swimmers may also require Swim Fins, Drag suits, Paddles, Kick-board, Pull buoy, Ankle bands, Snorkel, etc.
Giving his piece of advice to the young and budding swimmers, he said that hard work with dedication would take them to great heights and will help them to achieve what they want.
He said that youngsters should dream to achieve it. Sundresh says, “Dream first, then Plan, then be Committed to it, Achieve what you dreamt of and finally Celebrate your achievements.”
Sundaresh is now training swimmers at Mysore Sports Club swimming pool on Lalitha Mahal Road in city under the banner of Association of Integrated Mysore Swimmers (AIMS) for which he is the Founder Secretary and can be contacted on Mob: 98454- 77929.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / April 20th, 2014
