The aim of this study was to (1) analyze and compare the race performance and
stability between the fastest and slowest male swimmers during the 50 m freestyle
event, and (2) to understand the speed-time
relationship in this race. The
performances (start, clean swim, and finish) of 86 swimmers (divided into two
tiers: best and poorest performances) who competed in the 50 m freestyle event
in the 2019 long course LEN European Junior Championships were analyzed.
The swimming speed presented a significant difference between the groups (tier
#1 vs tier #2) in all sections of the race, in which the start (S0–15
m: p < 0.001,
d = 1.64) and finish sections (S45-50:
p < 0.001, d = 1.63) showed the greatest differences.
Significant variances over the race sections were noted for both groups
in all variables, in which the swimming speed was the variable with the highest
variance (tier #1: p < 0.001, η2 = 0.72; tier #2: p < 0.001, η2 = 0.82). Both groups
exhibited a similar normative stability, with the fastest swimmers tending to be
the best in all sections. The fit analysis produced a cubic speed-time
relationship.
Notwithstanding, junior swimmers who raced the 50 m freestyle can be considered
to have an all-out
pacing. This information is of paramount importance for
coaches and swimmers to understand the intra-lap
race performance in this short
event.
To LEN and Spiideo AB for providing the video clips. This
work is supported by national funds (FCT—Portuguese
Foundation for Science and Technology) under the project
UIDB/DTP/04045/2020.
