THE SPORT OF SWIMMING
In swimming, dedication to the sport from an early age is even more important than other sports. Because its activities are so unnatural, the position and nature of its movement uncommon and the demands of its activities so unique, a greater level of activity participation is required than in other sports.
To all intents and purposes, when a swimmer is not swimming, the adaptations of swimming totally lack stimulation and undergo a level of inactivity that is equivalent to bed rest. Research evidence is very clear that training effects are very specific and for an unnatural sport such as swimming there is very little benefit (except general athleticism and injury prevention), from doing activities other than swimming.
When a swimmer is not swimming, the potential to detrain because of the absence of a level of related or specific training is very high. For that reason alone, it is necessary that swimmers need to spend much time training.
(Taken from Swimming Science Bulletin 4, Professor Brent S. Rushall, San Diego State University 2000)
