JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The U.S. Olympic swimming team brought home 30 medals from this year’s Olympics in Tokyo, and 11 of those were a glimmering gold.
Two Olympians shared the team’s secret weapon with Action News Jax.
Seven-time Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer David McCagg is training the next generation of swimmers.
He calls it the X1-Pro. It fits in the palm of your hand but it breeds gold medal talent.
“What we did is we created the iPhone versus the 1970 payphone,” McCagg said.
X1-Pro creators said the device creates resistance in the water that helps swimmers build up their endurance, correct their strokes, and more.
“Resistance training has always been something on land easily done but people in the water think that the water is enough resistance, and it’s really not,” McCagg said.
12-time Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte consistently uses it in his training as well.
“It corrects your stroke. It works on power. Kicking, especially. There’s so many different sets in practice you can use with it that will benefit you,” Lochte said.
Lochte trains alongside Caleb Dressel, who brought home five gold medals from this year’s Olympics.
Lochte said you can see the effect the X1-Pro has on talent.
“If you watch Dressel underwaters, his breakouts, they’re phenomenal, and it was because of the X1-Pro. It helped us that much,” Lochte said.
More than half of the U.S. Olympic swimmers trained with the X1-Pro, and the 30 medals in Tokyo show it.
“About 67% of the U.S. athletes were using the X1 Pro at training camp because they’re catching on; me and Dressel, we used it all the time,” Lochte said.
“We’ve just realized that I think it’s 25 of the 30 medals won, athletes are training them on it or they have it,” McCagg said.
Lochte said he’s happy for all the team’s successes this summer in Toyko.
“I’m so happy for team USA. They did amazing. They came together and became as one,” Lochte said.
He himself cannot wait to get back in the water.
“I can’t wait for the training group that I train with to get back so I can start training with them,” Lochte said.
The X1-Pro packs a punch. However, it’s the punch you need to succeed, according to Lochte.
“If you’re a swimmer, you better get it,” Lochte said.
You can learn more about the X1-Pro HERE.
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