Start and turn performances of elite sprinters at the 2016 European Championships in swimming

TLDR

The study examined performance characteristics of male and female finalists in the 100‑m events at the 2016 European Championships in swimming. The authors analyzed start and turn parameters of all 64 finalists (32 male, 32 female) across the four strokes in the 100‑m events. Start and turn performance accounted for about one‑third of total race time, with males faster in Butterfly starts and females in Freestyle starts, and both sexes faster in Freestyle turns; stroke had a strong effect, yet no significant differences across strokes, underscoring the importance of training starts and turns.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the performance characteristics of male and female finalists in the 100-m distance at the 2016 European Championships in swimming (long-course-metre). The performances of all 64 (32-males and 32-females) were analysed (8 swimmers per event; Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Butterfly). A set of start and turn parameters were analysed. In the start main outcome, male swimmers were faster in Butterfly (5.71 ± 0.14s) and females in Freestyle (6.68 ± 0.28s). In the turn main outcome, male and female swimmers were faster in Freestyle (males: 9.55 ± 0.13s; females: 10.78 ± 0.28s). A significant and strong stroke effect was noted in the start and turn main outcome, in both sexes. In the start plus the turn combined, males and females were faster in Freestyle (males: 15.40 ± 0.20s; females: 17.45 ± 0.54s). The start and the turn combined accounted almost one-third of the total race time in all events, and non-significant differences (p > 0.05) were noted across the four swim strokes. Once this research made evident the high relevance of start and turns, it is suggested that coaches and swimmers should dedicate an expressive portion of the training perfecting these actions.