ABSTRACT

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between short distance swimming performance and repeated sprint ability in swimmers.

Methods: 12 male swimmers between the ages of 14-18 from Denizli Pamukkale University Swimming Sports Club Performance team voluntarily participated at this study. Freestyle swimming time of the subjects was measured by using Casio stopwatch. 10x15-m, 50-m and 100-m freestyle swimming degrees of swimmers were recorded. The ideal sprint time (IS), the total sprint time (TS) and the performance decrement (PD) were determined after repeated sprint test (RST). Lactate levels were recorded at the end of each test. The Borg scale was used to determine the perceived difficulty level. For the statistical analysis Pearson’s correlation was used to determine the correlations between 50- m and100-m freestyle swimming time and swimming times obtained at the end of RST (IS, TS, PD).

Results: Significant relationships were found between the 50-m and 100-m swimming performance (p<0.01). Significant correlations were found between the IS and the TS and the 50-m swim results (p<0.01) and also the 100-m swim results (p<0.05). Significant correlations were found between the 50-m lactate values and 100-m lactate values (p<0.05). Significant relationships were found between 10x15-m RST lactate values and 50-m lactate values (p<0.05). Moreover, strong relations were found between the 10x15-m RST lactate values and 100-m lactate values (p<0.01).

Conclusion: This study has shown that repeated sprint ability as well as higher anaerobic capability as reflected by the short distance.