No abstract

This study compared the in-water bilateral leg kick speed difference between a Paralympic and an Olympic athlete. The Paralympic (former S10) was not eligible after his reclassification in 2019, whereas the Olympic was a semi-finalist in 50 m freestyle in Rio 2016. Kick performance was assessed by a speedometer in one push-off ∼15 m maximal kick sprint. Ten complete cycles were analyzed, and the average speed of each leg in each cycle was calculated. Computerized planimetry assessed plantar feet areas. Differences between right and left feet areas were –22% and –2.1% for the Paralympic and Olympic, respectively. The left kick was slower in the Paralympic (p < 0.0001, ES: 2.35, very large), whereas no difference was found for the Olympic (p = 0.55, ES: 0.27, small). There is a substantial bilateral leg kick speed difference for the Paralympic, but not for the Olympic. The impact of Paralympic’s impairment on his kick performance considerably differs when using quantitative and qualitative assessments.

The gold rush in para swimming: changes in the speed curve of a visually impaired world and paralympic champion-a case study. Sports Biomechanics.