The ‘deep-catch’ stroke, which pulls through water like a boat paddle, is the most efficient swimming stroke.
High-precision laser scans and underwater videos were used to capture the different strokes used by elite swimmers. Animation software was then used to replicate the swimmers’ motions and test efficiency using fluid dynamics techniques.
Outside of competitive swimming, the findings could be useful in designing exoskeleton suits to help military forces swim quickly and efficiently.
Read more at John Hopkins University