Sprint resisted swimming training effect on the swimmer’s hand orientation angles

The aim of this study was to conduct a scoping and bibliometric review of swimming articles related to race analysis. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to identify relevant studies. Articles on race analysis in swimming published between 1984 and December 31, 2023 were retrieved from the Web of Science database. 366 records were screened and a total of 74 articles were retained for analysis. Until 2012, there were some time intervals with no or few publications. From 2012, there was a clear upward trend in publications and citations. This theme was led by the United States of America, Australia, and Spain. Australia and Spain maintain their status as the countries with the most publications. The analysis of author collaborations revealed two clusters with Spanish authors, and the remaining clusters are composed of Portuguese, Swiss, and Australian authors. With this bibliometric review, it has been possible to understand the evolution of the articles published on race analysis in swimming, the countries and the authors that have contributed most to this topic over the years. The prediction model shows that the number of articles and citations on this topic will continue to increase over the next 10 years (until 2034).

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…swimmers, usually at the national level, and adolescent or young adult swimmers (7,8). On the other hand, race analysis from official competitions (national or international championships or Olympic Games) allows to analyze: (i) a larger number of swimmers; (ii) elite level swimmers, and; (iii) analyze these swimmers in a real competition scenario (6,9).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Race analysis in swimming: understanding the evolution of publications, citations and networks through a bibliometric review

Morais,

Barbosa,

Arellano

et al. 2024

Sprinting to the top: comparing quality of distance variety and specialization between swimmers and runners

Born,

Romann,

Lorentzen

et al. 2024

ObjectivesTo compare performance progression and variety in race distances of comparable lengths (timewise) between pool swimming and track running. Quality of within-sport variety was determined as the performance differences between individual athletes' main and secondary race distances across (top-) elite and (highly-) trained swimmers and runners.MethodsA total of 3,827,947 race times were used to calculate performance points (race times relative to the world record) for freestyle swimmers (n = 12,588 males and n = 7,561 females) and track runners (n = 9,230 males and n = 5,841 females). Athletes were ranked based on their personal best at peak performance age, then annual best times were retrospectively traced throughout adolescence.ResultsPerformance of world-class swimmers differentiates at an earlier age from their lower ranked peers (15–16 vs. 17–20 year age categories, P < 0.05), but also plateaus earlier towards senior age compared to runners (19–20 vs. 23 + year age category, P < 0.05), respectively. Performance development of swimmers shows a logarithmic pattern, while runners develop linearly. While swimmers compete in more secondary race distances (larger within-sport variety), runners specialize in either sprint, middle- or long-distance early in their career and compete in only 2, 4 or 3 other race distances, respectively. In both sports, sprinters specialize the most (P < 0.05). Distance-variety of middle-distance swimmers covers more longer rather than sprint race distances. Therefore, at peak performance age, (top-) elite female 200 m swimmers show significantly slower sprint performances, i.e., 50 m (P < 0.001) and 100 m (P < 0.001), but not long-distance performances, i.e., 800 m (P = 0.99) and 1,500 m (P = 0.99). In contrast, (top-) elite female 800 m middle-distance runners show significantly slower performances in all their secondary race distances (P < 0.001). (Top-) elite female athletes specialize more than (highly-) trained athletes in both sports (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThe comparison to track running and lower ranked swimmers, the early performance plateau towards senior age, and the maintenance of a large within-sport distance variety indicates that (top-) elite sprint swimmers benefit from greater within-sport specialization.

Quantity of within-sport distance variety – what can pool swimmers and track runners learn from each other?

Born,

Lorentzen,

Björklund

et al. 2024

ObjectiveTo determine the relationship between success at peak performance age and quantity of within-sport distance variety and compare the dose-time-effect between swimming and track running by determining probability of becoming an international-class female athlete based on the number of different race distances the athletes compete in each year throughout their development process.MethodsRace times of female Tier 2 to Tier 5 freestyle pool swimmers (n = 2,778) and track runners (n = 9,945) were included in the present study. All athletes were ranked according to their personal best at peak performance age. Subsequently, number of different race distances during each year were retrospectively extracted from peak performance to early junior age. Personal best performance points at peak performance age were correlated with the number of different race distances across the various age categories. Poisson distribution determined the dose-time-effect of becoming an international-class athlete based on the number of different swimming strokes.ResultsAt peak performance age, correlation analysis showed a larger within-sport distance variety for higher ranked athletes, particularly for track runners (r ≤ 0.35, P < 0.001). Despite reaching statistical significance, the effects were small to moderate. While swimmers showed a generally larger within-sport distance variety than track runners, Poisson distribution revealed a dose-time-effect for the probability of becoming an international-class swimmer. Sprint and middle-distance swimmers benefit from competing in three race distances during junior age and a transition to two race distances at 17–18, 18–19, 20–21 and 25–26 years of age for 50 m, 100 m, 200 m and 400 m races, respectively. Long-distance swimmers should maintain three different race distances throughout peak performance age. Probability analysis showed a consistent benefit of competing in one or two race distances for 100 m, 200 m, 400 m and 800 m track runners.ConclusionWithin-sport distance variety is not a continuum but an ever-evolving process throughout the athletes' careers. While swimmers generally show larger variety than track runners, the progressive specialization towards peak performance age improves success chances to become an international-class swimmer.