Performance and drag during drafting swimming in highly trained triathletes

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_36E5C854BC3B
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Title
Performance and drag during drafting swimming in highly trained triathletes
Journal
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
Author(s)
Chatard J.C., Chollet D., Millet G.
ISSN
0195-9131
Publication state
Published
Issued date
1998
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
30
Number
8
Pages
1276-1280
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
PURPOSE: The influence of drafting was studied on the swimming performance, metabolic response, and passive drag of eight triathletes. METHODS: The performance in drafting position was measured directly behind another swimmer during a 400-m swim and compared with the nondrafting position. Metabolic response concerned VO(2), blood lactate, stroke rate, stroke length, and rating of perceived exertion. Drag was measured by passive towing. RESULTS: In drafting position, the triathletes swam on average faster (3.2%) over the 400-m swim than in nondrafting position (4 min, 47.69 +/- 10.35 s vs 4 min, 57.25 +/- 7.24 s; P < 0.01). Blood lactate and stroke rate were significantly lower (9.6 mM vs 10.8 mM; 39.9 cyclexmin(-1) vs 41.3 cyclexmin(-1) P < 0.02) and stroke length higher (2.10 mx cycle(-1) vs 1.97 mxcycle(-1), P < 0.01) than in nondrafting position. VO(2) and rating of perceived exertion were not statistically different. Passive drag was lower in drafting than in nondrafting position (P < 0.01). However, the gain in drag decreased with the towed velocity (from 26% at 1.1 mxs(-1) to 13% at 1.7mxs(-1)). In drafting position, the performance gain was related to the 400-m time (r = 0.80, P < 0.01) and to the skinfold thickness (r = 0.94, P < 0.01), with faster and leaner swimmers having greater gains of performance. CONCLUSIONS: Swimming behind another swimmer in a race is advantageous for triathletes.
Keywords
Adult, Humans, Lactic Acid/blood, Oxygen Consumption, Skinfold Thickness, Swimming/physiology, Task Performance and Analysis
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
25/09/2008 8:01
Last modification date
20/08/2019 13:25
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