In swimming, "breast" refers to the breaststroke, a swimming stroke performed face down in the water.
Here's a breakdown:
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Definition: The breaststroke is characterized by a symmetrical, simultaneous arm movement combined with a "frog-like" kick. The swimmer is typically in a prone (face-down) position.
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Technique: The stroke involves a simultaneous outward sweep of the arms followed by a bringing them back together in front of the body. The legs perform a whip-kick, where the knees are drawn up and the feet turned outwards before powerfully kicking back and together. A glide phase typically follows.
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Key Elements:
- Arm Movement: A simultaneous sweeping motion of the arms forward, outward, and then back inward.
- Leg Movement: A whip-like kick where the legs are brought towards the body, feet turn outward, and then forcefully kicked back in a circular motion.
- Breathing: Typically, the swimmer inhales during the arm pull-out phase and exhales during the glide or arm recovery.
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Why it's called "breaststroke": The stroke gets its name because, when performed correctly, it mimics the movements one might make while clearing a path through tall grass or weeds to "breast" through an obstacle. The body also stays fairly high in the water exposing the breast of the swimmer.
In summary, "breast" in swimming specifically denotes the breaststroke, a distinctive swimming technique with its unique arm and leg movements.
