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Published on: May 20, 2011
Tracking the performance of world-ranked swimmers
Mário J Costa1, Daniel A Marinho, Victor M Reis
1Department of Sport Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança , Bragança, Portugal ; Department of Sport Sciences, Exercise and Health, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro , Vila Real, Portugal ; Research Centre in Sports Science, Health and Human Development , Vila Real, Portugal.
World-ranked swimmers show moderate performance stability and a consistent increase in speed across seasons. Coaches should focus on long-term training plans, identifying the third season of the Olympic cycle as a key period for peak performance.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Physiology
- Performance Analysis
Background:
- Tracking swimming performance is crucial for progression analysis and goal setting.
- Understanding performance stability helps coaches optimize training methods for elite athletes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the longitudinal performance progression and stability of world-ranked male swimmers in Olympic freestyle events over five seasons.
- To provide insights for coaches on training periodization and goal setting for elite swimmers.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 477 swimmers and 2385 season best performances from 2003/2004 to 2007/2008.
- Longitudinal assessment using mean stability (ANOVA) and normative stability (Pearson Correlation, Cohen's Kappa).
- Inclusion criteria based on FINA's top-150 rankings for the 2007-2008 season.
Main Results:
- Significant seasonal variations in mean swimming performance were observed across all freestyle events.
- Performance enhancement ranged from 0.6-1% per season and 3-4% over the entire period.
- Moderate performance stability was found overall, with low stability in the 50-m freestyle. A notable increase in stability was observed in the third season.
Conclusions:
- Elite swimmers demonstrate consistent performance enhancement and moderate stability throughout an Olympic cycle.
- Coaches should adopt a long-term perspective in training design and periodization.
- The third season of the Olympic cycle is a critical period, showing increased performance stability leading up to the Olympic Games.
