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Int J Sports Med 2024; 45(08): 598-607
DOI: 10.1055/a-2289-0873
Training & Testing

Open Water Swimming in Elite Triathletes: Physiological and Biomechanical Determinants

Óscar López-Belmonte 
1   Aquatics Lab, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
,
Ana Gay 
1   Aquatics Lab, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
,
Jesús J. Ruiz-Navarro 
1   Aquatics Lab, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
,
Francisco Cuenca-Fernández 
1   Aquatics Lab, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
2   Department of Sports and Computer Sciences, Pablo de Olavide University, Sevilla, Spain
,
Roberto Cejuela 
3   Physical Education and Sports, University of Alicante, Alacant, Spain
,
Raúl Arellano 
1   Aquatics Lab, Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
› Author Affiliations Funding Information MCIN/AEl/10.13039/501100011033 and “ERDF A way of making Europe”, by the “European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR” — PID2022–142147NB-I00: SWIM III Ministry of Universities — FPU19/02477
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Abstract

This study aimed (i) to analyze the 1500 m open water swimming performance, (ii) to examine the associations between physiological and biomechanical variables with swimming performance, and (iii) to determine which variables can predict swimming performance in triathletes. Fourteen elite triathletes (23.4±3.8 y) performed a 1500 m test in open water swimming conditions. Swimming performance was assessed using World Aquatics Points Scoring, and data were obtained from the 1500 m open water swimming test. Heart rate, end-exercise oxygen uptake (EE˙VO2) and blood lactate concentrations were measured. The initial 250 m of the 1500 m swimming test presented the highest values of biomechanical variables in males (i. e. swimming speed, stroke rate (SR), length (SL), index (SI)). A decrease in SL was observed in the last 250 m in both sexes. Positive association were found between EE˙VO2 (r=0.513; p=0.030), swimming speed (r=0.873; p<0.001) and SI (r=0.704; p=0.002) with swimming performance. In contrast, time constant of the oxygen uptake (r=−0.500; p=0.034) and buoy-turn times (r=−0.525; p=0.027) were negatively associated with performance. SI was the main predictor (R 2=0.495) of open water swimming performance in triathletes. In conclusion, triathletes and coaches must conduct open water training sessions to maximize SI (i. e. swimming efficiency).

Keywords

triathlon - performance - kinematics - energetic - endurance


Publication History

Received: 30 October 2023

Accepted: 26 February 2024

Article published online:
22 April 2024

© 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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