Coordination Patterns of The Swimming Start: A Comparative Study Between Elite and Sub-Elite Swimmers

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics of human movement
• Sports science and performance analysis
• Aquatic sports and swimming technique

Background:

• Swimming starts are crucial for race performance.
• Understanding upper-lower body coordination is vital for optimizing the start.
• Elite swimmers often display unique movement patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate upper-lower body coordination during the swimming start.
• To compare coordination patterns between elite and sub-elite swimmers.
• To identify key phases and segmental dominance in the dive start.

Main Methods:

• Coupling angle mapping was used to analyze segmental dominance and variability.
• High-speed multi-camera systems (above and below water) captured dive starts.
• Data from twenty swimmers (ten elite, ten sub-elite) performing maximal effort starts were analyzed across four phases.

Main Results:

• Coordination patterns varied across dive-start phases, with thigh dominance common during flight.
• Elite swimmers showed earlier trunk dominance in the entry phase for a horizontal dive-in.
• Sub-elite swimmers displayed later trunk dominance during the transition phase.

Conclusions:

• Start performance is not solely determined by time to reach specific phases.
• Swimmers need to balance drag reduction with rapid entry for efficient stroking.
• Individualized training focusing on coordination, particularly trunk and thigh dominance, can enhance swimming start performance.