Aerobic Cost in Elite Female Adolescent Swimmers

Abstract

Maximal performance in swimming depends on metabolic power and the economy of swimming. Thus, the energy cost of swimming (economy=V˙O ₂/V, C_s) and maximal aerobic power (V˙O _2max) in elite young female swimmers (n=10, age: 15.3±1.5 years) and their relationships to race times (50–1 000 m) and national ranking were examined. V˙O ₂ increased exponentially with velocity (V), (V˙O ₂=5.95+(−10.58 V)+5.84 V²) to a maximal V˙O ₂ of 2.71±0.50 L·min⁻¹ (46.7±8.2 mL·kg−1·min⁻¹) at a free swimming velocity of 1.37±0.07 m·s⁻¹. C_s was constant up to 1.2 m·s⁻¹ (21.5 mL·m⁻¹), however was significantly higher at 1.36 m·s⁻¹ (27.3 mL·m⁻¹). Peak [La] was 5.34±2.26 mM. C_s expressed as a percentage of Cs at maximal swimming velocity was significantly correlated with race times and ranking across a number of distances. The data for these elite females demonstrate that the energy cost of swimming is a good predictor of performance across a range of distances. However, as swimming performance is determined by a combination of factors, these findings warrant further examination.

swimming economy - elite female athletes

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