The association of end-spurt behaviour with seasonal best time in long-distance freestyle pool swimming

ABSTRACT

To analyse the association of seasonal best time, distance and different performance levels with end-spurt behaviour in one swimming season. Race results in 800 and 1500 m pool freestyle swimming in the season 2018/2019 including 14,930 races and 2650 swimmers were obtained. The end-spurt for each race was determined by means of an End-Spurt Indicator (ESI). Subsequently, ESI was used as a dependent variable and influences were analysed using a linear mixed model with fixed effects for seasonal best time, distance, and performance level amongst others. In the 800 and 1500 m races swimmers showed a mean ESI of 2.08 (95% CI: 2.02–2.13) and 3.68 (95% CI: 3.59–3.76), respectively. There was a significant association between seasonal best time and ESI, with a better seasonal best time showing a greater ESI (F = 70.5, P < .001, f²= 0.04). A significant effect on greater ESI was also observed for longer distance (F = 1067.5, P < .001, f²= 0.06) and higher performance level (F = 91.1, P < .001, f²= 0.02). Elite swimmers had a mean ESI of 5.47 (95% CI: 4.91–6.03), sub-elite swimmers of 3.74 (95% CI: 3.53–3.95) and competitive swimmers of 2.41 (95% CI: 2.37–2.46). A more pronounced end-spurt is associated with seasonal best time in long-distance pool swimming, higher performance level of the swimmer and longer race distance.

KEYWORDS:

• Pacing strategy
• consistency
• swim velocity
• water
• sports performance

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank swimranking.net for granting access and permission to use their race report data. The results of the current study do not constitute an endorsement of the product by the authors or the journal.

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.