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Int J Sports Med 1985; 06(5): 266-270
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1025849
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Energy Expenditure During Front Crawl Swimming: Predicting Success in Middle-Distance Events

D. L. Costill, J. Kovaleski, D. Porter, J. Kirwan, R. Fielding, D. King
  • Laboratory: Human Performance Laboratory Ball State University Muncie, Indiana 47306
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Publication History

Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

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Abstract

Male (n = 25) and female (n = 14) competitive swimmers were studied during tethered (breaststroke) and free (front crawl) swimming to determine the validity of calculating exercise oxygen uptake (V̇O2) from expired gas samples taken immediately after the activity. Based on a single 20-s recovery V̇O2, the swimmers' V̇O2max was correlated with performance in a 400-yd (365.8-m) front crawl swim. The best predictors of V̇O2max for trained swimmers were lean body weight and stroke index (r = 0.97). The single best predictor of performance in the 365.8-m front crawl swim was the distance per stroke (r = 0.88), whereas the combination of distance per stroke and V̇O2max (ml/kg LBW/ min) correlated 0.97 with performance in the swim. This study demonstrates that it is possible to accurately determine the V̇O2 during maximal and submaximal swimming using a single, 20-s expired gas collection taken immediately after a 4-7 min swim. These findings demonstrate the importance of stroke technique on the energy cost and variations in performance during competitive swimming.

Key words

energy cost - performance - swimming - lean body weight