Characteristics of Elite 10-km Open-Water Swimmers: A Systematic Review

Performance in 10K open-water swimming (OWS) events is influenced by various factors including physical conditioning, biomechanics, anthropometrics, race tactics, and environmental factors.

This systematic review aims to analyze the performance determinants in 10-km OWS.

The electronic databases Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched using a comprehensive list of relevant terms. Searches reported 16 studies (2000-2024) organized in various categories according to different performance conditional factors.

Key findings show age at peak performance of 28.94 years (men) and 27.40 years (women), likely due to the need for prior competition experience in OWS. Anthropometric analyses revealed moderate correlations between body-fat percentage and lean mass index with final race position. Physiological analysis showed that high values of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) reached 5.51 L/min (men) and 5.05 L/min (women), an indicator of aerobic power and lactate thresholds achieved at 88.75% to 93.75% (lactate threshold), a determinant of aerobic capacity. Stroke index was demonstrated as a significant predictor of performance (r = .91, P < .001). It is recommended that stroke rate be increased by was up to 10% over the final 400 to 500 m in order to mitigate the effects of fatigue on velocity. Effective 10-km OWS training programs emphasize high-volume, low-intensity sessions (76.83% in zone 1), moderate-intensity threshold work (17.70% in zone 2), and targeted high-intensity sprints (5.47% in zone 3).

In order to achieve optimal performance, it is essential to integrate physiological parameters (VO2max, lactate threshold), biomechanical adaptations (stroke rate/length optimization), and tactical preparation (drafting, pacing).