PreprintArticleVersion 1Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed
Pacing Strategy of 800-Meter and 1500-Meter Freestyle Swimming Finals in the World Championships According to the Performance in Males and Females of Different Age Groups
Demarie, S.; Pycke, J.R.; Pizzuti, A.; Billat, V. Pacing Strategy of 800 m and 1500 m Freestyle Swimming Finals in the World Championships According to the Performance in Males and Females of Different Age Groups. Appl. Sci.2023, 13, 10515.
Demarie, S.; Pycke, J.R.; Pizzuti, A.; Billat, V. Pacing Strategy of 800 m and 1500 m Freestyle Swimming Finals in the World Championships According to the Performance in Males and Females of Different Age Groups. Appl. Sci. 2023, 13, 10515.
Demarie, S.; Pycke, J.R.; Pizzuti, A.; Billat, V. Pacing Strategy of 800 m and 1500 m Freestyle Swimming Finals in the World Championships According to the Performance in Males and Females of Different Age Groups. Appl. Sci.2023, 13, 10515.
Demarie, S.; Pycke, J.R.; Pizzuti, A.; Billat, V. Pacing Strategy of 800 m and 1500 m Freestyle Swimming Finals in the World Championships According to the Performance in Males and Females of Different Age Groups. Appl. Sci. 2023, 13, 10515.
Abstract
Pacing strategy refers to the distribution of effort and speed throughout the race to achieve optimal performance. The study aims to understand whether the choice of pacing strategy in swimming depends on the length of competitions and how sex, age, and performance level influence this strategy. Participants were the finalists of the 800-meter and 1500-meter freestyle events at the elite and junior world championships in 2022-2023. Race outcomes and pacing parameters were compared between the two distances and across different groups of swimmers. Swimmers in both distances did not break world records. Pacing strategy generally followed a U-shape with significant differences in the frequency and duration of speed changes between the two distances. The 800-meter exhibited more frequent changes in acceleration while the 1500-meter events generally followed a more consistent time series pattern. There were differences in pacing strategies between males and females and between junior and elite swimmers. Swimmers closer to world records showed more consistent pacing patterns compared to those farther from records. The study suggests that pacing strategies are influenced by race distance, sex, age, and performance level. The research highlights the complex interplay between physiological and psychological factors that shape a swimmer's decision-making during a race.
Keywords
energy cost; endurance; training; technique; tactic; fatigue; performance; time series; mathematical modelling; sex difference
Subject
Biology and Life Sciences, Other
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
