What does DPC Look Like?

What does Distance Per Cycle actually look like in real race data — and what does it mean for your swimmer's development?

In this video, Glenn Mills dives deeper into one of the most important metrics in the Go Swim app: Distance Per Cycle. Using a real 100 backstroke race as a live example, Glenn breaks down exactly what a stroke cycle looks like on video, how the app measures it, and what that number tells you about how efficiently a swimmer is moving through the water.

In this particular race, the swimmer is covering 2.61 yards per stroke cycle — a remarkable number for an elite-level backstroker on track to score at Division I NCAAs. But the most important takeaway isn't the number itself — it's what you do with it.

Don't compare your swimmer to elite athletes. Compare them to themselves. Every swimmer is a different size, at a different point in their physical development, and bringing different strengths to the water. The goal isn't to match someone else's DPC — it's to understand where your swimmer is today and track their progress over time. For a still-growing athlete, this year's numbers could look very different from next year's as strength and leverage naturally improve.

Know where you are. Know where you want to go. That's what Distance Per Cycle data is all about.

🏊 New to the Go Swim app? Check out our full Import & Add Data tutorial to get started. 🏊 .

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