Fact of the Day
1998-10-19

ANYONE FOR OVERHAND PLATE SWIMMING?
Hand paddles for training are nothing new. William Wilson, a Scottish pioneer coach, in his classic book, "The Swimming Instructor", published in Glasgow in 1883, said: "When swimming overhand wth plates on, it has been repeatedly suggested itself to our mind that the vulcanite or shelled plate for the uppermost hand, which we saw in Mr Dunlop's possession some years ago, and which we tried at the time, was peculiarly suitable for this style of swimming ( side-stroke), and is more like the actual shape of one's hand when the dip in front of the head is performed. And we cannot help thinking that such a plate should be obtained by those who practise overhand plate swimming." Any intrepid volunteers?