Strength Coach: Strength is an Accessory for Swimmers, Swimming is Paramount

In the 16th episode of the swimming podcast "Vastuvoolu," Kregor Zirk's strength coach, Ailer Mõtsar, shared insights into the role of strength training for elite swimmers. Zirk, who finished 7th at the Paris Olympics, recalled seeking Mõtsar's expertise due to a persistent lower back injury.

Mõtsar explained that while shoulders are crucial for swimmers due to the repetitive nature of the sport, strength training is an accessory that supports the athlete. "Strength as such is an accessory that you add and that then supports the swimmer in the water," Mõtsar stated. He stressed that the primary focus must remain on the sport itself, whether it's swimming for a swimmer or athletics for a track and field athlete.

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Strength as such is an accessory that you add and that then supports the swimmer in the water.

The peak of their collaboration, according to Mõtsar, was Zirk's Paris Olympics semifinal performance. He described an overwhelming sense of relief after the race, to the point where he couldn't sleep, listening to music in a dark room, immensely satisfied that their hard work had yielded results. The podcast episode also featured Mõtsar revealing his favorite four-letter strength exercise and included entertaining games, as is customary for the "Vastuvoolu" podcast.

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Certainly the Paris Olympics semifinal. The final was already a moment of letting go, but after the semifinal, I couldn't go to sleep. The lights were off and I listened to music in the dark room. The relief that all the effort seen worked was immense.