Race Analysis and Determination of Stroke Frequency - Stroke Length Combinations during the 50-M Freestyle Event

Jorge E Morais; Tiago M Barbosa; José A Bragada; Alan M Nevill; Daniel A Marinho

doi:10.52082/jssm.2023.156

Race Analysis and Determination of Stroke Frequency - Stroke Length Combinations during the 50-M Freestyle Event

J Sports Sci Med. 2023 Mar 1;22(1):156-165. doi: 10.52082/jssm.2023.156. eCollection 2023 Mar.

Authors

Jorge E Morais^{1

2}, Tiago M Barbosa^{1

2}, José A Bragada^{1

2}, Alan M Nevill³, Daniel A Marinho^{2

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Sports Sciences, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal.
² Research Centre in Sports, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), Covilhã, Portugal.
³ Faculty of Education, Health, and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, United Kingdom.
⁴ Department of Sports Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal.

Abstract

The aims of this study were to: (1) analyze and compare the stroke kinematics between junior and senior elite male swimmers in every section of the race during the 50-m freestyle event, and; (2) identify stroke frequency (SF)-stroke length (SL) combinations on swim speed independently for junior and senior swimmers in each section of the 50-m freestyle event. Eighty-six junior swimmers (2019) and 95 seniors (2021) competing in the 50-m long course meter LEN Championships were analyzed. The t-test independent samples (p ≤ 0.05) were used to compare juniors and seniors. The SF and SL combinations on swim speed were explored using three-way ANOVAs. Senior swimmers were significantly faster in the 50-m race than juniors (p < 0.001). Speed presented the largest significant difference (p < 0.001) in section S0-15 m (start until the 15^th meter mark) being seniors fastest. Both junior and senior swimmers revealed a significant categorization (p < 0.001) by stroke length and stroke frequency in each race section. It was possible to model several SF-SL combinations for seniors and juniors in each section. The fastest swim speed in each section, for seniors and juniors independently, was achieved by a SF-SL combination that may not be the fastest SF or the longest SL. Coaches and swimmers must be aware that despite the 50-m event being an all-out bout, several SF-SL combinations were observed (independently for juniors and seniors), and they differ between race sections.

Keywords: Analysis; biomechanics; competition; performance.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Athletic Performance*
Humans
Male
Swimming*