Aerobic cost in elite female adolescent swimmers

Maximal performance in swimming depends on metabolic power and the economy of swimming. Thus, the energy cost of swimming (economy= VO(2)/V, C(s)) and maximal aerobic power (VO(2max)) in elite young female swimmers (n=10, age: 15.3+/-1.5 years) and their relationships to race times (50-1,000 m) and national ranking were examined. VO(2) increased exponentially with velocity (V), (VO(2)=5.95+(-10.58 V)+5.84 V(2)) to a maximal VO(2) of 2.71+/-0.50 L x min(-1) (46.7+/-8.2 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1)) at a free swimming velocity of 1.37+/-0.07 m x s(-1). C(s) was constant up to 1.2 m x s(-1) (21.5 mL x m(-1)), however was significantly higher at 1.36 m x s(-1) (27.3 mL x m(-1)). Peak [La] was 5.34+/-2.26 mM. C(s) expressed as a percentage of Cs at maximal swimming velocity was significantly correlated with race times and ranking across a number of distances. The data for these elite females demonstrate that the energy cost of swimming is a good predictor of performance across a range of distances. However, as swimming performance is determined by a combination of factors, these findings warrant further examination.