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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Changes in breaststroke swimming performances in national and international athletes competing between 1994 and 2011 -a comparison with freestyle swimming performances.

Mathias WolfrumBeat KnechtleBeat KnechtleThomas RosemannChristoph Alexander RüstRomuald Lepers

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11035 Institute of General PracticeFuture studies610 Medicine & healthPhysical Therapy Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation[SDV.GEN] Life Sciences [q-bio]/GeneticsSwimming speed03 medical and health sciences2732 Orthopedics and Sports Medicine0302 clinical medicineMedicineGender differenceOrthopedics and Sports MedicineBreaststrokeNational levelWomen3612 Physical Therapy Sports Therapy and RehabilitationInternational level[SDV.GEN]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Geneticsbiologybusiness.industryAthletesRehabilitationMen030229 sport sciencesbiology.organism_classificationSex-related difference2742 RehabilitationSwimming speed[ SDV.GEN ] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Geneticsbusinesshuman activities030217 neurology & neurosurgeryResearch ArticleDemography

description

Abstract Background The purpose of the present study was to analyse potential changes in performance of elite breaststroke swimmers competing at national and international level and to compare to elite freestyle swimming performance. Methods Temporal trends in performance of elite breaststroke swimmers were analysed from records of the Swiss Swimming Federation and the FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation) World Swimming Championships during the 1994–2011 period. Swimming speeds of elite female and male breaststroke swimmers competing in 50 m, 100 m, and 200 m were examined using linear regression, non-linear regression and analysis of variance. Results of breaststroke swimmers were compared to results of freestyle swimmers. Results Swimming speed in both strokes improved significantly (p < 0.0001-0.025) over time for both sexes, with the exception of 50 m breaststroke for FINA men. Sex differences in swimming speed increased significantly over time for Swiss freestyle swimmers (p < 0.0001), but not for FINA swimmers for freestyle, while the sex difference remained stable for Swiss and FINA breaststroke swimmers. The sex differences in swimming speed decreased significantly (p < 0.0001) with increasing race distance. Conclusions The present study showed that elite male and female swimmers competing during the 1994–2011 period at national and international level improved their swimming speed in both breaststroke and freestyle. The sex difference in freestyle swimming speed consistently increased in athletes competing at national level, whereas it remained unchanged in athletes competing at international level. Future studies should investigate temporal trends for recent time in other strokes, to determine whether this improvement is a generalized phenomenon.

10.1186/2052-1847-6-18https://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00990249/file/2052-1847-6-18.pdf