Butterfly

     Coaches and swimmers have been searching for ways to improve stroke efficiency since competitive swimming began. The butterfly was developed as a result of such research. In 1934, University of Iowa coach David Armbruster was searching for a method to make the breastrokers faster. He realized that because the arms and legs recover underwater, there was a natural barrier to speed. Armbruster developed a double overarm recovery that combined with the breaststroke's whip kick.

     One year later, Jack Sieg, an Iowa Swimmer, began swimming on his side mimicking a dolphin's kick. Armbruster and Sieg combined techniques, swimming the stroke in a prone position with the "dolphin" kick and overarm recovery combined. With practice and coordination, the swimmers could cover 100 yards in about one minute.

     Because of the strict rules governing form on the breaststroke, the kick was ruled illegal. However, champion breastrokers continued using the overarm recovery with a whip kick to win breaststroke races. Finally, in 1956 the butterfly, as the stroke was named, was approved as a separate stroke.

-- Splash Magazine April/May 2001