The 100 breaststroke is a tempo-management duel: four lengths of balancing stroke rate against glide while the legs - breaststroke's engine - slowly fill with fatigue. The stroke's efficiency window is narrow: rush it and you spin without grip; over-glide and you park in the water between strokes. With two underwater pullouts and the most rhythm-dependent stroke in swimming, the 100 breast is won by swimmers who stay technically greedy under pressure.
| Level (Time) | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| beginner | 2:50+ | 3:05+ |
| novice | 2:18 | 2:30 |
| intermediate | 1:52 | 2:03 |
| advanced | 1:33 | 1:42 |
| elite | sub 1:20 | sub 1:28 |
Adult times, 25 m pool.
Where does your 100 Breast land?
Log it once and the app places you on this table automatically, then tracks the trend.
Swim the first 50 long and patient, then shrink the glide progressively on the way home - tempo rises, stroke length shortens slightly, kick stays full. Never sacrifice the kick's finish (feet snapping together): a lazy kick doubles the arms' workload instantly. Nail both pullouts even when tired; they're where breaststroke races hide their seconds. Breathe every stroke with the head low. Broken 100s and 25s at race tempo are the standard prescription.
Beginner: 4x25 with rest focusing on kick-glide-pull timing, building to a continuous 100 at even, relaxed tempo.
Log every result, see your progress over time, and know exactly where you stand.
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