Athletes are always looking for an edge over their competition; they search for new and innovative ways to improve their performance. This often leads them to adopt unique training regimens that help them stay ahead of the pack. Let’s explore some of the most interesting training methods used by sports stars around the world.
Johnny Manziel – Ocean Workouts
Former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel is no stranger to controversy. In fact, his off-field antics often overshadowed his on-field talent. However, there was one training method that he used that caught everyone’s attention. Manziel would often train in the ocean, using the resistance of the water to improve his strength and conditioning.
In truth, lots of sports stars get involved in aquatic training these days, and an example of a leading facility is https://www.aquaticperformancetraining.com/. Water training is an excellent way to reduce the risk of injury, as well as improve your cardiovascular fitness.
Michael Phelps – Underwater Weights
While talking of being underwater, it would be remiss not to mention the most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps. As well as his massive frame giving him an advantage in the pool, Phelps also used to train with underwater weights.
By wearing a weight belt around his waist, Phelps would swim as normal but with extra resistance. This helped to build up Phelps’ strength and power, which was essential for his swimming style. Phelps isn’t the only one to use this method either, with many other top swimmers following suit. If it’s good enough for Phelps, it’s good enough for anyone!
Usain Bolt – Weighted Sleds
Sprinting is all about raw speed and power, so it’s no surprise that sprinting legend Usain Bolt trained with weighted sleds. By pulling a sled loaded with weights, Bolt was able to build up his leg strength and power. This helped him to explode out of the blocks when he was racing and gave him that extra edge over his opponents.
Michael Jordan – Strobe Light Glasses
From two legends to a third, Michael Jordan was one of the greatest basketball players of all time. During his prime, Jordan used to train with strobe light glasses. These glasses would emit brief flashes of light that would disrupt his vision. This may sound counter-intuitive, but by training with these glasses, Jordan was able to improve his hand-eye coordination even while the photographers were flashing away with their cameras by the court.
Lynn Swann – Ballet
Lynn Swann was a wide receiver who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s. He was known for his incredible catches, often making seemingly impossible receptions look easy. But how did he train? Swann actually took ballet lessons. He credited ballet with giving him the grace and agility needed to make those amazing catches on the football field.
While the two sports may seem entirely different on paper, they share a lot in common. Both require split-second timing, coordination, and balance. Ballet also helped Swann develop the strength and power needed to make those big plays on the football field. If this doesn’t show that various types of exercise can help athletes hit their goals, we don’t know what will.
Multiple Olympians – VR Training
To finish, lots of Olympians in recent years have mentioned virtual reality training as part of their regimen. While it’s not quite the same as the real thing, being able to simulate various scenarios and events can help athletes get a feel for what they’re up against. And as technology continues to develop, who knows where virtual reality training will go next?