What does Milo Cavic think of the gallop freestyle? HOT TAKE INCOMING

Hey swimmers! This is coach Milo.

Welcome to another Q&A session where I answer questions from you all on the internet.

Today's question is:

"What does Milo Cavic think of the gallop freestyle? HOT TAKE INCOMING"

Answer: My thoughts on the gallop freestyle are simple—don’t do it. The galloping motion creates unnecessary vertical movement, which means you’re spending energy going up and down instead of forward. In swimming, everything should be directed toward forward propulsion.

What often happens with gallop swimmers is that one arm becomes dominant, leading to imbalance. This imbalance causes inefficiencies and often results in dropping the elbow and pushing water downward rather than backward. When you push water down, you go up instead of forward, which slows you down.

A strong freestyle should be balanced, with both arms contributing equally. The goal is to move water straight backward, not create vertical oscillation. If you find yourself galloping, it’s usually a sign that your stroke mechanics are off—especially your catch and elbow position.

Balance, symmetry, and directing force backward are the priorities. The gallop may look powerful, but it’s inefficient and limits your potential speed.

Summary: Gallop freestyle is inefficient because it creates vertical movement and imbalance; swimmers should focus on a balanced stroke that moves water backward, not downward.