Abstract
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2019–2020 season, swimming competitions and training have been limited leading to a setback in performances. The study analyzed if, during the subsequent season, swimmers’ have been able to regain the lost performance. Swimming time trends were analyzed comparing Tokyo with Rio Olympics and with mathematically predicted results. The gap between the gold medalist and the last finalist, and the differences between men and women have also been considered. Swimming competition results of females and males, in 100 m and 200 m Freestyle and Backstroke, were collected from the Olympics’ official website. Results showed that at Tokyo Olympics almost all swimmers’ times improved as compared to Rio’s. Analysis of performance trends highlighted that performance progression does not proceed in a linear fashion and that is best predicted by more recent results. Women’s progression was higher than men’s and the gap between the first and last finalist constantly decreased, except for the Tokyo Olympics. In conclusion, the unprecedented Tokyo Olympic Games and qualification year seems not to have disrupted all Olympic swimmers’ performance, suggesting that stakeholders support and athlete’s coping ability might safeguard the subsistence of performance.
Highlights
Periodization training is considered one of the main issues for coaches and athletes, it underlies the process of athlete preparation and is fundamental for setting realistic performance goals in the plan for major competition [1,2]
Games which foresees at least 4 years of training periodization, conceived as the purposeful sequencing of different training units, so that athletes could attain the desired state and planned results at the right time [3]
Some of the analyzed competitions were already included in the Olympic program at London 1908 and Stockholm 1912, only starting from Mexico City 1968 all those competitions can be found
Summary
Periodization training is considered one of the main issues for coaches and athletes, it underlies the process of athlete preparation and is fundamental for setting realistic performance goals in the plan for major competition [1,2]. Monitoring athletes using variables that best correlate to actual sports performance is much more important than following theoretical concepts; it is necessary to develop effective and applied methods to train and progress high level athletes for long-term success, according to their specific requirements [4,5,6,7]. Conducting studies to predict future sports results can be helpful for developing appropriate training plans and strategies. Observing results from previous years and monitoring the progress and trends in swimming along time makes it possible to estimate and forecast future results and allows to predict the direction in which this discipline is heading [1]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
