One Sprinter, Two Olympic Preparations: A Single-Athlete Longitudinal Observational Study of Training-Intensity...

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Swimming Performance

Background:

• Training intensity distribution (TID) is crucial for optimizing athletic performance.
• Understanding TID variations across Olympic cycles can inform training strategies for elite swimmers.
• Previous research highlights the importance of high-intensity training for sprint events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and compare TID across two Olympic preparation cycles (Rio 2016 vs. Tokyo 2021) in an elite 50 m freestyle swimmer.
• To investigate the relationship between high-intensity training exposure and performance outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal observational study of a single elite male 50 m freestyle swimmer.
• Training intensity distribution (TID) was categorized into three zones: Z1 (low), Z2 (threshold), and Z3 (high intensity/race-pace).
• Data collected across four mesocycle periods (General, Specific, Pre-competition, Taper) over two Olympic cycles.

Main Results:

• The Tokyo cycle showed a shift towards a greater proportion of training volume in Z3, particularly during Pre-competition and Taper phases, compared to the Rio cycle.
• Rio 2016 TID (Z1/Z2/Z3): General 80/0/20, Specific 60/0/40, Pre-competition 40/30/30, Taper 50/20/30.
• Tokyo 2021 TID (Z1/Z2/Z3): General 85/0/15, Specific 60/0/40, Pre-competition 30/30/40, Taper 40/20/40.

Conclusions:

• Increased Z3 training volume in the Tokyo cycle may have coincided with improved sprint freestyle performance.
• Sprint-swim preparation for 50 m events likely requires a training volume oriented towards Z3, with relatively less volume in Z1.
• Limitations include single-athlete design and data recording methods, necessitating further research for generalizable insights.