The following discussion concerns a factor that governs the maximization of sprinting ability in swimming. Its contents have been known for more than 30 years but have largely been ignored by coaches. Some of the main aspects: - Speed improvements are primarily neural, not physiological. - Training should be specific to the final desired performance. - To learn skilled movement patterns that are to be executed under fatigued conditions, that learning has to occur in non-fatigued states. - The skill factor in producing maximal and optimally efficient sprint performances is dependent largely upon the amount of skill executions at a specific performance velocity.