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What is the IM? (Individual Medley)

Today we’re answering the question “what is the IM?” 

If you’re a more experienced swimmer and you already know all about the Individual Medley, keep reading because we’ll be sharing tips on how you can get the most out of your IM training, including an IMX-themed workout!


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What Does IM Stand For?

IM is short for Individual Medley. When you swim IM, you will swim all four competitive strokes:

In competition, the IM is contested in three different distances:

There are also two relays that incorporate all four strokes:

IM Order vs Medley Relay Order

If you’re racing IM by yourself, you will swim the strokes in the following order:

In relays, the order is different:

Why Should You Train IM?

Related: How Many Calories You Burn Swimming

Different Types of “IM” Training

Related: The 5 Hardest Swimming Events

You can incorporate IM into your workouts in a few different ways. These five variations are most common. For more terminology & FAQ, visit our Support Site

“IM Order:” This means you complete the set by swimming one rep of each stroke. For example, if your set is 4×50 IM order, you would swim:

“FRIM:” This stands for “Freestyle IM,” meaning you will swim freestyle in place of butterfly. This variation allows you to start the backstroke and breaststroke fresh, and makes your IM sets more aerobic. A 100 FRIM would look like:

“Transition IM:” Transition IM allows you to reduce your training volume and work on your turns by switching strokes. For example, a set of 3 x 50s Transition IM would look like:

“Twitch” or “IM/FREE” or “Major Stroke/Free:” Here, you’ll alternate IM order with Freestyle. If you’re doing a 200 Twitch, your swim would look like this:

IM Order x2 or x3: In this setup, you’ll do multiple reps of each stroke, in IM order. You can add in variation in speed or effort for each rep. If your set is 8x25s IM Order x2 (odds easy/evens fast), you would do the following:

Related: Why You Need to Swim All 4 Strokes Every Workout

IM Swim Training Plans

Want to work on your IM? Try out these Training Plans in the MySwimPro app! 

IMX Workout

Challenge yourself with this IM swim workout! Complete one round of the Main Set for a 2,600-yard workout, or complete 2 rounds for a 3,600 yard workout. 

Warmup

Pre Set (1x)

Main Set (1 or 2x)

Cool Down

4 x 50s IM Order

2,600 yards or meters – 60 Minutes

3,600 yards or meters – 80 Minutes

We hope you’re inspired to incorporate more IM into your swim training! If you’re looking for more Swim Workouts, Technique Videos and tracking tools, download the MySwimPro app on your iPhone or Android. Use code SWIM35 to save $35 on your first year of training >

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