Swimmers of all ages and abilities will find this illustrated guide a key reference to the art and technique of the sport. Acclaimed Masters Coach Ed Nessel, who holds advanced degrees in biochemistry and physiology, offers valuable insight into the science of swimming, including nutrition, the body’s adaptation to vigorous exercise, the proper balance of training (both in and out of the pool) with rest and recovery, and keys to staying healthy. Plus he covers the fine points of each stroke: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and individual medley each get a chapter, and race skills also receive close attention. Detailed line drawings, charts and tables, anecdotes, and a year’s training cycle for competitive swimmers make this a must for anyone headed into the pool.