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Int J Sports Med 2008; 29(2): 145-150
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-965113
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Time Limit at V·O2max Velocity in Elite Crawl Swimmers

R. J. Fernandes1 , K. L. Keskinen2 , P. Colaço3 , A. J. Querido1 , L. J. Machado4 , P. A. Morais1 , D. Q. Novais1 , D. A. Marinho1 , J. P. Vilas Boas4
  • 1Swimming, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
  • 2Finnish Society of Sport Sciences, Helsinki, Finland
  • 3Athletics, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
  • 4Biomechanics Lab., Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision January 1, 2007

Publication Date:
13 September 2007 (online)

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess, with elite crawl swimmers, the time limit at the minimum velocity corresponding to maximal oxygen consumption (TLim-vV·O2max), and to characterize its main determinants. Eight subjects performed an incremental test for vV·O2max assessment and, forty-eight hours later, an all-out swim at vV·O2max until exhaustion. V·O2 was directly measured using a telemetric portable gas analyzer and a visual pacer was used to help the swimmers keeping the predetermined velocities. Blood lactate concentrations, heart rate and stroke parameter values were also measured. TLim-vV·O2max and vV·O2max, averaged, respectively, 243.2 ± 30.5 s and 1.45 ± 0.08 m · s-1. TLim-vV·O2max correlated positively with V·O2 slow component (r = 0.76, p < 0.05). Negative correlations were found between TLim-vV·O2max and body surface area (r = - 0.80) and delta lactate (r = - 0.69) (p < 0.05), and with vV·O2max (r = - 0.63), v corresponding to anaerobic threshold (r = - 0.78) and the energy cost corresponding to vV·O2max (r = - 0.62) (p < 0.10). No correlations were observed between TLim-vV·O2max and stroking parameters. This study confirmed the tendency to TLim-vV·O2max be lower in the swimmers who presented higher vV·O2max and vAnT, possibly explained by their higher surface area, energy cost and anaerobic rate. Additionally, O2SC seems to be a determinant of TLim-vV·O2max.

Key words

time limit - velocity at V·O2max - elite swimmers

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Prof. PhD Ricardo Jorge Fernandes

Swimming
Faculty of Sport
University of Porto

Rua Dr. Plácido Costa, 91

4200 Porto

Portugal

Phone: + 351 2 25 07 47 63

Fax: + 351 2 25 50 06 87

Email: ricfer@fade.up.pt

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