Learning on the 'fly

The science behind the powerful dolphin kick that gives Maggie Mac Neil a clear advantage in pursuit of an unprecedented Olympic swimming feat

- KERRY GILLESPIE

Winning an Olympic gold medal is hard; defending that title is even harder. In a three-part series, the Star takes a look at Canadian Olympic champions from the Tokyo Games and the science behind their quest for a golden repeat in Paris.

Ask one of the nation's greatest swimmers to identify herself and this is what you get: "I'm Maggie Mac Neil and I'm a Canadian swimmer."

Also the reigning Olympic champion in 100-metre butterfly, one of a handful to break the 56-second barrier in the event, and a double short-course world-record holder. She came home from the Tokyo Olympics with a medal of every colour and has 28 other world and multi-sport Games medals.

Why did she leave so much out? "It's how I was raised," she said with a shrug.

She may be humble about her achievements heading into the Paris Olympics, but that hasn't stopped the 24-year-old from London, Ont. from setting a history-making goal.

"No one has repeated as Olympic champion in (women's) 100 fly, so obviously that's on my mind," Mac Neil said. "Going into Tokyo with all the (COVID-19) restrictions and everything, I didn't really have any goals for myself. It was just a miracle that it was even happening; it's going to be different this time."

Managing the mental game - the pressure of the moment, not overthinking things is as important for success as what happens in the water and, in Mac Neil's case, under it.

That's where the fifth stroke happens: the underwater dolphin kick. And it's where Mac Neil has a biomechanical advantage.

Her event on the opening weekend in Paris (heats and semifinals next Saturday, final Sunday) is likely to be a Tokyo Olympics rematch and then some. Five of the seven fastest women in history are expected to compete, including American Gretchen Walsh, who lowered the world record at the U.S. trials in June.