The Effect of Underwater Distance and Speed on Performance in Freestyle and Butterfly Style Sprint Races

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the effects of underwater distance and underwater velocity, measured from the starting dive, on the 25 m and 50 m swimming speeds of male swimmers in short-distance freestyle and butterfly events. Data were collected from swimmers aged 12.34 (±0.36) years, with a training age of 2.82 (±0.67) years, a body height of 153.20 (±7.55) cm, a body mass of 44.53 (±8.05) kg, and a body mass index of 18.90 (±2.47) kg/m². A total of 164 male swimmers voluntarily participated in the study (74 competed in both freestyle and butterfly, 37 only in freestyle, and 35 only in butterfly). Their race performances were recorded throughout the competition using three cameras positioned around the pool. The video footage was analyzed with Kinovea 2023.1.2 software to determine underwater distances and durations, the first and second 25 m split times. The data were normally distributed and analyzed using simple linear regression. Regression analyses revealed that, among fast freestyle swimmers, underwater velocity (R² = .564, p = .001) and underwater distance (R² = .361, p = .001) significantly contributed to 50 m race performance. Similarly, for fast butterfly swimmers, underwater velocity (R² = .345, p = .001) and underwater distance (R² = .272, p = .001) were identified as significant predictors of 50 m race speed. The findings indicate that underwater velocity is a key performance variable contributing to the 50 m race speed across all groups. However, among faster swimmers, underwater distance also provided an additional significant contribution. This suggests that elite swimmers not only exhibit higher underwater velocities but also make more efficient use of their underwater distance. It is recommended that researchers and coaches emphasize individualized optimization of underwater distance and velocity in training programs to enhance race performance in short-distance events. Keywords: underwater distance, underwater velocity, short distance, swimming race, performance

Keywords

• Sprint
• underwater spread
• underwater speed
• short distance
• swimming speed

Serbest ve Kelebek Stil Yarışında Depar Sualtı Mesafesi ve Hızının Performansa Etkisi

Abstract

ÖZ Bu çalışmanın amacı kısa mesafe yüzme yarışlarında, erkek yüzücülerin elli metre serbest ve kelebek depar çıkışı itibari ile sulatı mesafesi ve sualtı hızının 25m ve 50m hızına olan etkileri araştırılmıştır. Bu araştırmaya, yaşları 12,34 (± ,36) yıl, antrenman yaşı 2,82 (± ,67) yıl, boy uzunluğu, 153,20 (± 7,55) m, vücut ağırlığı 44,53 (± ,8,05) kg, vücut kitle endeksi 18,90 (± 2,47) kg/m2 olan yüzücülerin verileri ele alınmıştır. Araştırmaya gönüllü olarak katılan 164 erkek yüzücünün (84’ü hem serbest, hem kelebek, sadece serbest 43 ve kelebek stillerinde 37) yarışma anında sergiledikleri performans havuza yerleştirilen üç kamera yolu ile baştan sona kaydedilmiştir. Video görüntüleri Kinovea-2023.1.2. programına aktarılarak sualtı çıkış mesafe ve süreleri, birinci ve ikinci yirmibeş metre geçiş süreleri, atılan kol sayıları, kulaç sıklığı, kulaç mesafeleri belirlenmiştir. Veriler normal dağılım göstermiş doğrusal regresyon ile analizleri yapılmıştır. 50 metre serbest stil yüzen yüzücülerin sualtı hızı, hızlı yüzen yüzücülerde (R2= .564, p= 0.001), sualtı mesafesi (R2= .361, p= 0.001*) katkı sağlarken, 50 metre kelebek stil hızlı yüzen yüzücülerin sualtı hızı, hızlı yüzen (R2= .345, p= 0.001), sualtı mesafesi (R2= .272, p= 0.001*) etkide bulunduğu saptanmıştır. Çalışmaya dahil olan gönüllü katılan yüzücülerin ölçümlerinden elde edilen veriler göstermiştir ki sualtı hızı her dört grupta da 50m hızına katkıda bulunan önemli değişkenidir. Ancak hızlı yüzücülerde, sualtı mesafesinin de ek olarak anlamlı katkı sağladığı görülmektedir. Bu bulgu, üst düzey yüzücülerin hem yüksek sualtı hızına hem de daha uzun etkin mesafe kullanımına sahip olduklarını ortaya koymaktadır. Araştırmacı ve antrenörlerin yüzme performansının değerlendirilmesinde ve geliştirilmesinde yüzücülerin kendilerine en uygun sualtı mesafe ve hızları üzerinde gereken önemi göstererek yarışma hızına yansıtılmasına yönelik programları üretmeleri kısa mesafe yarışmaları için önem vermeleri yerinde olacaktır.

Keywords

• depar
• sualtı mesafesi
• sualtı hızı
• kısa mesafe
• yüzme hızı

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