Kinematic parameters and stroke rate variability in elite female 200-m swimmers in the four swimming techniques: Athens 2004 Olympic semi-finalists and French National 2004 Championship semi-finalists

Abstract : OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this work was to study stroke rate variability in elite female swimmers (200-m events, all four techniques) by comparing semi-finalists of Athens 2004 Olympic Games (group O, n=64) and French National 2004 Championship semi-finalists (group N, n=64). METHODS: Swimming velocity (V), stroke rate (SR), stroke length (SL) and coefficient of variation of stroke rate (CVSR) of the first and second 100 meters were determined (V1, V2; SR1, SR2; SL1, SL2; CVSR1, CVSR2) and differences between the two parts of the events were calculated (ΔV; ΔSR; ΔSL; and, ΔCVSR). RESULTS: In group O, SR1, SR2, SL1, and SL2 were significantly higher (P < 0.001) and ΔV, ΔSR, ΔCVSR were significantly lower (P < 0.01) than in group N. CVSR1 and CVSR2 were significantly lower for freestyle and backstroke races in group O than in group N (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Stroke rate variability appears to depend on an interaction between the biomechanical requisites of the task (techniques) and the level of practice.