Start and turn performances of elite sprinters at the 2016 European Championships in swimming

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the performance characteristics of male and female finalists in the 100-m distance at the 2016 European Championships in swimming (long-course-metre). The performances of all 64 (32-males and 32-females) were analysed (8 swimmers per event; Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Butterfly). A set of start and turn parameters were analysed. In the start main outcome, male swimmers were faster in Butterfly (5.71 ± 0.14s) and females in Freestyle (6.68 ± 0.28s). In the turn main outcome, male and female swimmers were faster in Freestyle (males: 9.55 ± 0.13s; females: 10.78 ± 0.28s). A significant and strong stroke effect was noted in the start and turn main outcome, in both sexes. In the start plus the turn combined, males and females were faster in Freestyle (males: 15.40 ± 0.20s; females: 17.45 ± 0.54s). The start and the turn combined accounted almost one-third of the total race time in all events, and non-significant differences (p > 0.05) were noted across the four swim strokes. Once this research made evident the high relevance of start and turns, it is suggested that coaches and swimmers should dedicate an expressive portion of the training perfecting these actions.

Stability of pace and turn parameters of elite long-distance swimmers

“…As stated earlier, a swimming race is composed by four phases. In short-distance events such as the freestyle 100 m race, the start may contribute with nearly 12% to the total race time (Morais et al, 2018). However, in this long-distance particular case (800 m freestyle), the start contributes with 1.40% and the finish with 0.06% to the total race time.…”

“…In each race, 15 turns were analyzed. In each turn, the following turning parameters were analyzed: (i) the 5 m in (the time between the last 5 m mark of each lap and the swimmer's touch on the wall); (ii) the water break time (the time between the swimmer's touch on the wall and the head water break); (iii) the water break distance (the distance between the wall and the swimmer's head break); (iv) the 15 m out (the time between the touch on the wall and the 15 m mark) and; the total turn, that was selected as the turn main outcome (the time between the last 5 m of each lap and the 15 m of the following lap) (Morais et al, 2018). The distance used was calibrated based on the pool's marks (i.e., 5 m and 15 m marks in the swim lanes).…”

Turns as an important factor of swimming performance

“…Formátů takové analýzy závodního výkonu může být několik, zpravidla jsou v nich ale vždy obsaženy informace o průběhu jednotlivých částí závodu, konkrétně pak ze startu, plavaných úseků, obrátkových úseků a finiše (Morais et al, 2019). Během těchto úseků lze zjišťovat dosažený čas, rychlost plavání, záběrovou frekvenci, vzdálenost překonanou během jednoho záběrového cyklu (plavecký krok), či údaje spojené se startem a obrátkami.…”

“…Během těchto úseků lze zjišťovat dosažený čas, rychlost plavání, záběrovou frekvenci, vzdálenost překonanou během jednoho záběrového cyklu (plavecký krok), či údaje spojené se startem a obrátkami. (Arellano et al, 1994;Cossor & Mason, 2001;Hellard et al, 2010;Morais, Marinho, Arellano, & Barbosa, 2019;Tor, Pease, & Ball, 2015;Veiga & Roig, 2017).…”

“…U středních a dlouhých tratí tak může mít způsob technického provedení obrátky velmi výrazný podíl na celkovém zlepšení výsledného času (Blanksby et al, 1996;Morais et al, 2019).…”