Swimming with closed eyes

Stu,

It is amazing how attenuation or absence of certain senses are compensated by remaining senses (and possible the development of some "sixth sense").....remember a few years ago the blind swimmer that finished the Chesapeake Bay Bridge OW swim?

If you think about it, swimmers cannot smell much, hear much, taste much, vision is limited but skin sensation (touch) is not affected.....

[CoachStuartMcDougal]

Hi ti97,

The Chesapeake Bay 4.4 mile swim looks awesome. I may try to talk Tony (blind swimmer) into that one. Thanks for sharing

Stu

Originally Posted by CoachStuartMcDougal

Hi Sclim,

I think you are and charlesjohny8 are saying the same thing, Charles is more feeling. It's the "Observation Effect" - the act of measuring or observing changes the outcome or the act. Swimming a few strokes with eyes open, close for a few strokes, then open again - one discovers how much our eyes trigger unconscious movements. I have a blind swimmer and it's fascinating how other senses magnify and compensate (ears, pressure/feel, etc). He can swim a 25y length and never hit the lane ropes, and I often have him split the lane with another swimmer. Most are amazed to find out he's blind.

Stuart

Thanks for advice. He must be extraordinary swimmer. I will soon be like him in swimming with close eyes. I love to swim that way but It will take time for me to be the perfect.

[Suddethb]

To both of you, I'd love to exchange ideas on teaching blind swimmers as I've been coaching two for several years. I've completed the Chesapeake myself, and guided my blind friend Mark Rew twice in their 1-mile event, and in 2016 we did a 3K OW. I'm gathering my experiences and ideas together for a book to help those of us with blind friends who want to swim better. I documented some of the experience in a forum string here.
http://openwaterpedia.com/index.php?title=Brian_Suddeth
http://openwaterpedia.com/index.php?title=Mark_Rew
https://www.totalimmersion.net/forum...ead.php?t=6854

The only blind swimmer I'm aware of who completed the GCBS so far is the absolutely awesome Triple Crown and Hall of Fame swimmer James Pittar of Australia who was guided by a kayaker using a whistle to give "right/left" directions.
http://openwaterpedia.com/index.php?title=James_Pittar

I also love swimming and I am a new swimmer. And this thread really helps me. But I can't swim in the pool without goggles.