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Swimming is a great way to stay in shape and have fun, but it can be confusing to figure out all of the different techniques. In this blog post, we’ll break down what IM stands for in swimming.
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What is IM in Swimming?
The Individual Medley, or IM, is a swimming event in which all four strokes (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle) are swum one after the other. It is considered one of the most difficult events, as it requires a swimmer to be proficient in all four strokes. The IM is swum in a 200 yard or meter pool. The order of the strokes is: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle.
The four strokes of IM
In swimming, the four strokes are breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly, and freestyle (also known as the front crawl). In a medley race, swimmers complete all four strokes in the following order: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle.
IM stands for individual medley. An IM race is an event in which swimmers complete all four strokes in the following order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle.
The IM is considered one of the most challenging events in swimming because it requires swimmers to be proficient in all four strokes. It is also one of the most popular events, especially at the high school and collegiate levels.
The IM can be raced in short course (25m or 25yd pool) or long course (50m pool). The world record for the IM is held by Michael Phelps of the United States. Phelps’ time of 1:54.23 was set at the 2009 World Championships in Rome.
The order of the strokes in IM
The strokes in IM must be swum in the following order: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Front Crawl (Freestyle). The swimmer returns to the pool wall after each stroke, before swimming the next stroke.
The benefits of IM
IM training is beneficial for swimmers of all levels because it develops a well-rounded skill set. By incorporating all four strokes into one workout, swimmers can develop a strong technique in each stroke while also building endurance. IM training is also a great way to mix up your workouts and keep them interesting.
How to Swim IM
IM stands for individual medley, and is a swimming event in which you swim all four strokes in the following order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. The IM is considered one of the most challenging events in swimming, as it requires you to be proficient in all four strokes. Let’s get into the details of how to swim IM.
The start
When you’re ready to start swimming IM, there are a few things you need to know. First, you’ll need to be able to swim freestyle (also known as front crawl) and backstroke. You should also be able to do a basic breaststroke kick and butterfly stroke.
If you’re not sure how to do these strokes, or if you need a refresher, there are plenty of resources available (including YouTube videos and Swimming 101 articles). Once you’re confident in your freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke kick and butterfly stroke, you’re ready to start swimming IM.
Here’s a quick overview of the four strokes involved in IM:
Freestyle: Also known as front crawl, freestyle is the fastest and most efficient of the four strokes. To swim freestyle, you’ll need to alternate your arms over your head while keeping your body in a long, straight line. You can use any breathing pattern you like (including holding your breath), but most swimmers breathe every 3-5 strokes.
Backstroke: Backstroke is similar to freestyle, except that you’ll be swimming on your back instead of on your stomach. As with freestyle, you’ll want to keep your body in a long, straight line and alternate your arms over your head. Most swimmers breathe every 3-5 strokes when swimming backstroke.
Breaststroke: Breaststroke is a slower stroke than freestyle or backstroke, but it’s still an important part of IM. To swim breaststroke, you’ll need to keep your head above water at all times and perform a “frog kick” with your legs. Your arms will move in a semicircular motion in front of your body (think of them as two half-circles connected at the elbow). Most swimmers breathe every 2-3 strokes when doing breaststroke.
Butterfly: Butterfly is the hardest of the four strokes, but it’s also the fastest (if done correctly). To swim butterfly, you’ll need to keep your head above water and perform a dolphin kick with your legs. Your arms will move in unison over your head (think of them as one big circle). Most swimmers breathe every 2-3 strokes when doing butterfly.
The turn
The turn is important in the individual medley (IM), as it allows you to change strokes and maintain speed. In a 50-meter pool, you will complete two lengths of each stroke before turning. In a 25-meter pool, you will complete one length of each stroke. There are two main types of turns used in the IM: the flip turn and the open turn.
The flip turn is the most common type of turn used in the IM. To do a flip turn, you will push off of the wall and somersault in the air before coming back up and starting your next stroke. The open turn is used when you cannot do a flip turn or if you want to save time. To do an open turn, you will push off of the wall and then glide for a few seconds before starting your next stroke.
The finish
At the finish of an IM race, the swimmer touches the wall with both hands at the same time. The time is then stopped. The finish of an IM race is very important, as it can make or break a swimmer’s time.
Tips for Swimming IM
IM stands for Individual Medley, which is a swimming event that consists of four laps of the pool. The four strokes swum in order are butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. IM is considered one of the most challenging events in swimming because it requires all four strokes. In this article, we will give you some tips on swimming IM.
Stay relaxed
One of the main things you need to focus on while swimming IM is to stay relaxed. It can be easy to get tense while swimming, especially when swimming butterfly or backstroke, which require more effort. Relaxing your muscles and keeping your body loose will help you swim faster and with less effort.
Another tip for swimming IM is to focus on your technique. Make sure you are using proper form for all four strokes. This will help you swim more efficiently and again, with less effort. Remember to practice all four strokes regularly so that you can swim them equally well come race day.
Use a strong kick
If you want to swim IM fast, you have to have a strong kick. A strong flutter kick is vital to swimming IM because it provides most of the forward thrust to help you move through the water. You should focus on developing a strong and efficient kick by kicking from your hips, not your knees, and keeping your legs relatively straight. You also want to make sure that you are kicking from your hips and not your knees, as this will help you generate more power.
Practice your turns
While you may not be able to replicate an entire race in practice, you can (and should) practice your turns. Turns are arguably the most important part of an IM race, as they can make or break your time. A good IM turn should be:
-Quick: You want to minimize the amount of time you spend on the wall so you can get back in the pool and swimming as soon as possible.
-Streamlined: You want to enter the pool smoothly and without creating too much splash.
-Efficient: You want to make sure you’re using your muscles in the most efficient way possible so you don’t waste any energy.
