Abstract
ABSTRACT This study aimed to analyse the stability of elite male long-distance swimmers (1500 m), and to identify the main predictors related to the pace. The performance of 16 elite male swimmers (22.59 ± 2.10 years-old) participating in the 1500 m event at the 2016 (London) and 2018 (Glasgow) LEN European Aquatic Championships were analysed. The lap performance, clean swim performance, turn performance, and a set of stroke mechanics variables were assessed. The lap performance presented a significant and moderate variation with all laps included (p < 0.001) and deleting the first and last lap (p = 0.002). Swimmers were significantly faster in the first half in comparison of the second. The total turn also presented a significant and moderate variation. The hierarchical linear modelling retained the time (estimate = 0.0019, p = 0.007), stroke frequency (estimate = −27.49, p < 0.001) and stroke length (estimate = −6.55, p < 0.001) as the main predictors of the clean swim performance. By contrast to the analysis based on the lap performance, clean swim performance presented a non-significant variation. Coaches should be aware that stroke length maintenance could negatively affect the clean swim performance, whereas a small increase of stroke frequency may present a meaningful enhancement of the total race time.
Highlights
Excellent performance in sports is the major aim for every athlete and coach
The starting lights were synchronised with the official timer, which were visible by all cameras, and were used as reference to set the time-stamp on the race analysis software
For the total race time, a significant and strong variation was verified for the lap performance, and a significant and moderate variation for the clean swim performance
Summary
Excellent performance in sports is the major aim for every athlete and coach. Researchers and coaches try to innovate training methods based on the performance determinants, and understand how these determinants might be monitored helping athletes to improve (Skorski & Abbiss, 2017). The best way to learn how elite athletes behave is by analysing their performance. Video analysis of major events is an essential tool for all the support around athletes responsible for the athlete’s performance (ODonoghue, 2006). This information will clearly be important and useful to athletes and coaches that will take part in similar competitions.
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