The USA Swimming team's 400m free relay men's team (Nathan Adrian, Matt Grevers, Garrett Weber-Gale, and Michael Phelps) broke the short course world record on the final day of swimming competition at the 2009 Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool Swim Meet in Manchester, England. USA Swimmers Rebecca Soni and Julia Smit also broke individual marks as Team USA beat the E-Stars with a score of 185 to 78. The 2009 Duel in the Pool Swim Meet will be broadcast by NBC on December 27 from 2-4 p.m. ET.

(Photo by Alex Livesey - Pool/Getty Images)

Five swimming world records were broken Friday on the first day of competition of the 2009 Duel in the Pool in Manchester, England. The men's and women's 400m medley relay, Rebecca Soni, Nick Thoman and Julia Smit all set world marks as the USA team battled the E-Stars, a European all-star team made up of swimmers from Great Britain, Italy and Germany.
(Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

You are a beginner swimmer or a novice swimmer. You have the basics of a swimming workout figured out and want to be a better, but once you get in the pool to get the workout started, you feel a little lost? Don't know where to begin swimming? No coach to write a workout for you? Maybe you are just stuck in a rut and looking for other swim workout ideas? Here's a swimming workout plan to help you get fitter (and maybe faster) through a progressive swimming training plan.

Swimming drills are are specific movements, done repetitively, to get your technique "in the groove." They can help you get more efficient and they can help you become a faster swimmer. Generally included in all workouts, most coaches feel that you can never do enough technique work. Do you have favorite swim drills to share with other swimmers?

The Pool-Mate watch for swimmers uses motion sensors to detect and track laps and strokes as you swim. It has a stopwatch function as well. I have not seen one in-person yet, but it looks like a great tool that would help any swimmer that has trouble counting laps or that wants to swim more efficiently by working on strokes per lap.

Should baby swimmers or infant swimmers be dunked as part of a swim lesson? This is a common question parents ask about swimming lessons for their swimmers. "Dunk" is even a term used by some swimming instructors as part of a learn to swim lesson. Before I answer the question, "should babies be dunked during a swim lesson," let's clarify the meaning of the term dunk. My definition of dunk is to abruptly push a person underwater.

The waterproof SwiMP3 mp3 player is for swimmers, triathletes, surfers, synchronized swimmers and anyone involved in water activities. Unlike other waterproof mp3 players that rely on traditional air conduction technologies, the SwiMP3 waterproof mp3 player uses bone conduction - the direct transfer of sound vibrations from the cheek bone to the inner ear - to provide the swimmer with exceptional sound clarity.

Swimming toward the wall, somersault, streamline, push - the basic swimming flip turn (or do you say flipturn?). Wow! Looks neat. But is it necessary?

The swimming action at the 2009 AT&T USA Swimming Short Course National Championships came to a close Saturday night, with strong swims by Rebecca Soni and Nathan Adrian. Soni set a national swim meet record in the 200y breast while Adrian took home a win in the men's 100y free as the meet concluded. The swim meet will be broadcast as a one-hour special on NBC next Saturday, December 12 from 2 - 3 p.m. ET.

Dana Vollmer took home two gold medals Friday night at the AT&T 2009 USA Swimming Short Course National Championships. Vollmer set a meet record in the 200y free and also won the 100y fly. The meet concludes Saturday, December 5 in Federal Way, Wash.