Will weights improve my swimming speed?

Question

I've got nationals coming up, and normally i would just swim, but this thing is big so yeah i really want to work hard for it. But i only get a chance to swim once a week, on saterday mornings for about 1 and 1/2 hours. I swim about 2.6-3km each week, but i don't think thats enough, would doing weights at the gym help improve my speed? I'm registered for 50m freestyle and 4 x 50m free style relay, my time is 32seconds i'm trying fo under 30, so would doing weights regulary (3 times a week) Improve my speed? The comptetion is on may 21st, so would 1 month of training be good enough? I've also go some protein shakes, for before and after workouts and would running laps around the block also help?

Answer 1

you should lift weights but for strength try not to gain so much muscle because muscle is more dense than body fat and it is likely you will sink and that makes it harder for you to swim.

Answer 2

Not sure what group you are with but with a 32 sec 50 free you aren't going to national in USA or YMCA. Weights aren't going to help you in the time allowed. Running isn't a big help either. Get with your coach and ask him/her.

Answer 3

Lifting won't help you a whole lot, because what you need is to get conditioned in the pool. Obviously whatever league you are in has slow qualification times, so that will work toward your advantage.

Answer 4

First off that's impressive you're in nationals with practicing so little each week. Yes lifting weights will help with your speed, but not as much as swimming in a pool. It's better to practice what you're actually going to be doing, rather than just one aspect of the sport. I have been swimming since I was 6, and didn't start lifting till I was 16 for swimming.

If you must lift, make sure you don't lift weights for power, lift them doing maybe 3 sets of 12 lifts. Also go easy for this month, lifting would help more in the off season but bulking up muscles will do nothing but hurt you in the competition, the worst thing would be to pull something before an event.

Answer 5

I would join a club or at least find a pool where you can practice 5-6 days a week and do like 2 hours instead.  Finding a pool is much more important than finding weights.  The weights probably won't even do much

Answer 6

nationals?!

you're not going to nationals my dear.  i'm a girl and i went a 32 at age 12 (yes, for long course).  it's not all that impressive.

u seem like an enexperienced swimmer... so stay away from weights.  stretch cords will help stabilize muscle.  running will give you a different type of workout.  but i think that at this point for you, you should really just work on...well...swimming.