Evidence on the role of propulsion compared to drag in swimming, based on experimental
settings, is still lacking. However, higher levels of propulsion seem to lead to faster swimming veloci-
ties. The aim of this study was to understand the variation in a set of kinematic and kinetic variables
between two swimming sections and their relationship to swimming velocity. The sample consisted
of 15 young adult recreational swimmers (8 males: 20.84 ± 2.03 years; 7 females: 20.13 ± 1.90 years).
Maximum swimming velocity and a set of kinematic and kinetic variables were measured during
two consecutive sections of the swimming pool. Differences between sections were measured and
the determinants of swimming velocity were analyzed. Swimming velocity, propulsive force, and the
other kinematic and kinetic variables did not change significantly (p < 0.05) between sections (only
the intra-cyclic fluctuation of swimming velocity decreased significantly, p = 0.005). The modeling
identified the propulsive force, stroke length, and active drag coefficient as the determinants of
swimming velocity. Swimming velocity was determined by the interaction of kinematic and kinetic
variables, specifically propulsive force and active drag coefficient
This research was funded by FCT—Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology,
grant number UIDB/DTP/04045/2020
