This paper revisits the pioneering contributions of Antônio Carlos Stringhini Guimarães (and James Hay) to the field of swimming biomechanics and examines their lasting influence on subsequent research. Their systematic framework for analysing the start, swimming technique, and turn proved instrumental in establishing the now widespread practice of race analysis and in structuring subsequent biomechanical investigations of each of these key components of swimming performance. The present paper places these contributions in their historical context to highlight their seminal role in the development of swimming biomechanics. Recognising Antônio Guimarães's pivotal contribution to the growth of swimming biomechanics in Portugal, particularly at the University of Porto, the author also emphasises the strong scientific links established between the Portuguese and Brazilian research communities. After paying tribute to Antônio Guimarães (known to many simply as "Guima"), the paper examines the importance of deterministic models in advancing biomechanical research and discusses the enduring impact of his ideas on race analysis and the study of starts, swimming technique, and turns. Finally, it reflects on how these fundamental components of swimming performance can contribute to improving competitive results, with the ultimate goal of facilitating the transfer of scientific knowledge into coaching practice, as Guima had long envisioned.
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