How do swimmers ride the wake of another swimmer?

Question

In the olympics they keep saying that someone thats behind the leader can stick close to the lane line and "ride the wake" of the lead swimmer. How exactly does this work? It seems like someone's wake would only push you back?

Answer 1

Great question - you get a star.

It's fairly similar to what race car drivers use when they draft off the lead car. They let the lead car cut the air and it takes less effort to go the same speed.

In the water it's similar but it's more like riding the wake behind a boat or even like riding a wave at the beach. The speed of the water helps the swimmer move. The faster the wave/wake the faster the swimmer goes. Since the leader is the fastest in the water it is advantageous to 'fall in behind him/her' and ride their wake. The best place to draft off another swimmer is directly behind them. Since you're unable to do this in meets (swimmers must remain in their own lanes) the best one can do is if the leader is 'hugging the lane line' next to you. This will open up the ability to 'ride his/her wake' by moving over to the lane line next to them.

If you want to understand how this works it's best to find someone who is slightly faster in the water than you and begin swimming behind them, as close as you can without touching their feet. You should be able to stay up with them while they do most of the work. Open water swimmers and bicycle racers do this all the time.

You're comment about being 'pushed back' is correct if you're not close enough to the swimmer and are out of their 'wake'.

Hope this helps. Great question.