|
|
Article: The swimming professor: the late Doc Counsilman perfected the science of swimming, which led many of his students to Olympic gold.(People)
- Article from:
- Pool & Spa News
- Article date:
- January 30, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Hanley-Wood, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
James "Doc" Counsilman accomplished a lot in his long life. In 1979, at the age of 58, he swam the English Channel, becoming the oldest person at the time to have done so. He also trained scores of Olympic gold medal swimmers and wrote a bestselling book.
But what really mattered most to Counsilman, 83, who passed away Jan. 4 from complications of Parkinson's disease, were his myriad contributions to the science of swimming.
Counsilman single-handedly revised long-held swimming training methods and stroke techniques. He reportedly invented the pace clock, pool-lane makers, pool overflow gutters, interval mining and the biokinetic bench.
But he ...