Heart Rates of Elite Synchronized Swimmers

Abstract

In brief: Heart rates were recorded by radio-telemetry in ten elite and national-class synchronized swimmers as they performed competitive figures of high degrees of difficulty. In contrast to reports that diving bradycardia coincides with facial immersion, we observed an increase in heart rate in relation to the difficulty of the movements performed, followed by a delayed bradycardia. In some instances, the bradycardia seemed to be affected by intensity of exercise. A few swimmers displayed cardiac arrhythmias that are probably typical responses to the performance of such unusual underwater skills.