by Susan Klatz Beal

Created on: April 16, 2009   Last Updated: April 22, 2009

In the world of competitive swimming, breaststroke is probably the one event that is the least publicized. For whatever the reasons, it isn't as popular as some of the other swim stroke events. Nonetheless, it is included in FINA (Federation Internationale De Natation Amateur) events.

Breaststroke may be underrated as an event, but it is the one stroke for which a swimmer is able to coast along and rest without losing steam in the middle of an event. It is the ideal swim stroke for long distance races. Although the regulations once required that a swimmer keep their head out of water all the time, that has been changed, and breaststroke swimmers can put their entire head under water.

As a competitive swim stroke, breaststroke is every bit as difficult as any of the other swim strokes. It requires considerable stamina of a swimmer and just as much leg and upper body strength as any of the other swim strokes.

Throughout history, there have been many great breaststroke swimmers, but just as the great butterfly swimmers are largely men, there are more great female breast stroke swimmers than there are men. These swimmers are unquestionably among the best because each of them has won national, international and Olympic medals. In some cases, Olympic or world records were set. This is just a few of the great breaststroke swimmers.

AMERICAN SWIMMERS

MARY ELLEN BLANCHARD

In the late 1980's, Mary Ellen Blanchard was the American female breaststroke swimmer to watch. Between 1989 and 1991, she won 8 national championships. In 1989, she broke three American records for the 100 and 200 yard breast stroke. She still holds the American record for the 200 yard breaststroke.

ANITA NALL (NADIA ANITA HALL)

At the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics, Anita Nall won a silver medal in the 100 meter and a bronze in the 200 meter breast stroke. At that same event, she was a member of the gold medal winning 4 x 100 relay team.

MIKE BARROWMAN

Barrowman set the world record for the 200 meter breaststroke in August of 1997.

AMANDA BEARD

Amanda Beard participated in 4 consecutive Olympic Games: 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008. In all, she captured 7 medals. In 2003, she held the #1 ranking in the world for the 200 meter breaststroke. Additionally, in U.S. competitions, she won three 100 and 200 breast stroke titles and two 200 meter individual medley titles.

TARA KIRK

Tara Kirk has the distinction of being one of only two women to swim the 100 meter breast stroke in under 58 seconds. In the 2004 Olympics, she

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