The relationship between stroke length, stroke frequency, glide time and performance in swimmers: a biomechanical...

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of fundamental swimming technique parameters such as stroke length (SL), stroke frequency (SF), and glide time (GT) on swimming performance in freestyle swimmers and to analyze the relationships among these variables. The study included 12 licensed male swimmers competing in freestyle events. The participants were athletes aged between 18 and 25 years, who trained regularly and had at least three years of competitive swimming experience. The swimmers' anthropometric characteristics (height, body weight, and body mass index [BMI]) were recorded. In addition, their best 25-meter freestyle times were documented, and the number of strokes (SC), stroke length (SL), stroke frequency (SF), and glide time (GT) were measured using Kinovea, a two-dimensional (2D) motion analysis program. Based on the data obtained in the study, swimming time was found to be significantly and negatively correlated with stroke frequency and glide time and positively correlated with stroke length (p < .05, p < .01). These results indicate that high stroke frequency and effective use of the glide phase are important for achieving faster swim times. However, an increase in stroke length may lead to longer swim times and should therefore be addressed through individualized technical assessment. It is recommended that these technical parameters be developed in a balanced manner within training programs.