SWIMMING SKILL AND STROKING CHARACTERISTICS OF FRONT CRAWL SWIMMERS

The performance over a 368-meter swim, VO2max, stroke pulling pattern and anthropometric data of nine male competitive freestylers were studied to identify aspects of swimming techniques which allow a swimmer to be 'more skilled' than another. Performance was mainly related to VO2max, r = 0.80, the incorporation of the hydrostatic lift increased the correlation coefficient to 0.87 at the second stepwise regression. The real performance was compared to the theoretical performance obtained from the results of the stepwise regression. The group of four swimmers whose real performance was higher than that calculated by the regression equation was considered 'skilled', when compared to the other group ('less skilled'). 'Skilled' swimmers were characterized by a higher stroke frequency and superposition of both arm actions, a shorter stroke length, downsweep phase and longer upsweep phase. Those two phases were linked together, r = -0.88, p < 0.01, but not related to stroke rate. Entry phase and depth of stroke pattern were related to hydrostatic lift, r = -0.80 and 0.77, respectively, p < 0.01. However, there was no relationship between stroke length and anthropometric data. These findings demonstrate the importance of stroke technique on the energy cost of competitive swimming. They also demonstrate that stroke patterns depend upon technical, economical and anthropometric criteria.