The Brandenberg Gate

Steve Fair has served as a swimming coach for nearly two decades, during which time he has instructed swimmers of all ages and skills levels through a number of programs in Colorado. When he isn’t teaching swimming in Colorado, Steve Fair enjoys traveling and once visited Germany during his own swim career.

The Brandenburg Gate ranks among the most photographed attractions in Berlin. Found in the Pariser Platz, the gate was constructed on behalf of King Frederick Wilhelm II over a three-year period from 1788 to 1791. Its architect, Carl Gotthard Langhams, drew inspiration from the entrance to the Acropolis.

Over the years, the Brandenburg Gate has been present for several of Germany’s epochal periods, including the Napoleonic Wars and World War II. During the Cold War, it sat in the strip of land between West and East Berlin and served as a representation of the city’s division. Today, however, the sandstone gate, which remains one of the preeminent examples of German classicism, has come to represent unity among the German people.

Tips for Faster Freestyle Swimming

Steve Fair has coached swimming in Colorado communities for more than 17 years. In that time, swimming coach Steve Fair has guided a number of Colorado-based athletes to state championships and helped others to qualify for national championships and the Olympic Games.

To swim freestyle with maximum speed, the athlete first needs to maintain a correct position in the water. Good alignment on the horizontal axis, just below the surface of the water, helps the swimmer to minimize drag and allows the water to provide support. The swimmer must keep his or her head on the same axis as much as possible, as lifting the head disrupts balance and requires more effort to keep the legs from sinking.

Just as minimized drag helps the swimmer to improve speed, so does increased forward momentum. Swimmers can accomplish this by rolling from side to side with the stroke, thus engaging the powerful muscles of the back, torso, and hips. Meanwhile, the forearm and hand should align in the shape of a paddle, which pushes the body through the water more efficiently.