SWIM TURN PERFORMANCES AT THE SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES

Swim turn performances of the top 16 finalists at the Sydney Olympics were analyzed to identify the better characteristics of elite performance. Overhead cameras were used to obtain timing, distance and velocity characteristics of the push off and underwater phases of turns. This information supplemented the race analysis data that provided the time for the in phase and out phase of turns. Correlation statistics, using total turn time as the primary criterion measure, were used to examine relationships. The most significant aspect of the turn was the underwater phase. Swimmers that had a longer underwater phase, during the out phase of the turn, in buttemy, backstroke and breaststroke events gained a greater advantage from quicker turns than swimmers w~thle sser underwater distances

SWIM START PERFORMANCES AT THE SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES

The starting performance of finalists and semi-finalists in the swimming competition at the 2000 Olympic Games was analyzed. Start times were shown to consist of between 0.8% and 26.1% of the overall race time depending on the event. The start time was then broken into various phases to determine the significance of each phase on the overall start time. It was shown that the most significant variables in determining a fast start time were the underwater distance and time for both the male and female events. However, individual differences were found for all events so coaches must take these into account when training the start phase of a race with their swimmers

A COMPARISON OF JAPANESE FINALISTS TO OTHER FINALISTS IN THE 100 m SWIMMING RACES AT THE SYDNEY OLYMPIC GAMES

The purpose of this study was to compare the performance in 100 m swimming events at the Sydney Olympics between Japanese finalists and finalists from the other nations. The data collated by the B~omechanicsD epartment of the Australian lnstitute of Sport was used for this purpose. Swimming events were divided into four phases and the time taken to perform each phase was measured for 48 finalists. Although three Japanese swimmer performances were superior in the free swimming phase, their placing did not reflect this because of inferior performances in the start and turn. In contrast, the opposite situation arose with three other Japanese swimmers. These results suggest that not only the free swimming phase but also the starting and turning phases are important in determining race results in 100 m swimming events in international competition

SPECIFIC STRATEGY FOR THE MEDALLISTS VERSUS FINALISTS AND SEMI-FINALISTS IN THE WOMEN'S 200 M BREASTSTROKE AT THE SYDNEY OLYMPIC GAMES

The performances of the women's 200 m breaststroke at the Sydney Olympic games (final and semi-final) were studied using 12 video cameras. For each of the four 50 m laps, stroke velocities, stroke frequency, stroke length, and turn velocities were calculated using a specific competition analysis computer program. The medallists swam faster than the nonmedallist finalists in the four 50 m laps of the race. However, the difference was not statistically significant. In contrast, the medallists had a longer stroke length than the two other groups. For the 16 swimmers, the 200 m breaststroke velocity was mainly related to the velocity of the third and fourth 50 m laps (r = 0.88 and 0.86; p < 0.01). From the stroke frequency and stroke length perspective, three different technique strategies were observed. However, they were not related to the final result

SPECIFIC STRATEGY FOR THE MEDALLISTS VERSUS FINALISTS AND SEMI-FINALISTS IN THE WOMEN'S 200 M IM INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY AT THE SYDNEY OLYMPIC GAMES

The performances of the women's 200 m individual medley (IM) at the Sydney Olympic games (final and semi-final) were studied using 12 video cameras. The four strokes velocities, stoke frequency, stroke length, and turn velocities were calculated using a specific competition analysis computer program. The medallists had a higher crawl velocity, turn 2 and 3 velocities than the non-medallist finalists. For the 16 swimmers, the final performance was mainly related to the second part of the race, breaststroke velocity (r = 0.83; p< 0.01), crawl velocity (r = 0.68; p < 0.01) and turn 3 velocity (r = 0.73; p < 0.01). From the stroke frequency and stroke length perspective, two different strategies were observed. However. they were not related to the final result

SPECIFIC STRATEGY FOR THE MEDALISTS VERSUS FINALISTS AND SEMI FINALISTS IN THE WOMEN'S 200 M BACKSTROKE AT THE SYDNEY OLYMPIC GAMES

The performances of the women's 200 m backstroke at the Sydney Olympic games (final and semi-final) were studied using 12 video cameras. For each 50 m lap, the velocities, stroke frequency, strokc length, and turn velocities were calculated using a specific competition analysis computer program. The medallists swam faster than the non-medallists finalist in all four laps. They had a higher stroke frequency and longer stroke length throughout the race. For the whole group (n = 16), the 200 m backstroke velocity was mainly related to the third lap (r = 0.95,

SPECIFIC STRATEGY FOR THE MEDALLISTS VERSUS FINALISTS AND SEM-FINALISTS IN THE WOMEN'S 200 M FREESTYLE AT THE SYDNEY OLYMPIC GAMES

The performances of the women's 200 m freestyle at the Sydney Olympic games (final and semi-final) were studied using 12 video cameras. The four 50 m velocities, stroke frequency, stroke length, and turn velocities were calculated using a specific competition analysis computer program. The medallists swam faster than the non-medallist finalists only in the first 50 m. There was no other statistical difference for the start or turns velocities. For the 16 swimmers, the 200 m freestyle velocity was mainly related to the velocity of the third 50 m lap (r = 0.83;

SPECIFIC STRATEGY FOR THE MEDALISTS VERSUS FINALISTS AND SEMI-FINALISTS IN THE MEN'S 200 M BACKSTROKE AT THE SYDNEY OLYMPIC GAMES

The performances of the men's 200 m backstroke at the Sydney Olympic games (final and semi-final) were studied using 12 video cameras. The four 50 m velocities, stroke frequency, stroke length, and turn velocities were calculated using a specific competition analysis computer program. The medallists swam faster than the non-medallists finalist in the three first 50 m laps of the race. However, these differences were not statistically significant. For the whole group (n = 16), the 200 backstroke velocity was mainly related to the second 50 m (r = 0.93,

SPECIFIC STRATEGY FOR THE MEDALLISTS VERSUS FINALISTS AND SEMI FINALISTS IN THE MEN'S 200 M FREESTYLE AT THE SYDNEY OLYMPIC GAMES

The performances of the men's 200 m freestyle at the Sydney Olympic games (final and semi-final) were studied using 12 video cameras. The four 50 m velocities, stroke frequency, stroke length, and turn velocities were calculated using a competition analysis computer program. The medallists swam faster than the non-medallist finalists in the Znd, 3rd and 4th 50 m. They also swam faster in the 2nd and 3rd turns. For the 16 swimmers. the 200 m freestyle velocity was mainly related to the velocity of the 2nd 50 m (r = 0.95;

SPECIFIC STRATEGY FOR THE MEDALLISTS VERSUS FINALISTS AND SEMI FINALISTS IN THE MEN'S 200 M BREASTSTROKE AT THE SYDNEY OLYMPIC GAMES

The performances of the men's 200 m breaststroke at the Sydney Olympic games (final and semi-final) were studied using 12 video cameras. The four 50 m laps were analyzed to calculate the velocities, stroke frequency, stroke length, and turn velocities using a specific competition analysis computer program. The medallists swam faster than the non-medallist finalists in the third 50 m. In contrast, the percentage of the first 50 m swim duration was the longest. Compared to the semi-finalists, the medallists swam faster at all times except during the first 50 m. For the 16 swimmers, the 200 m breaststroke velocity was mainly related to the fourth 50 m lap velocity (r = 0.71; p < 0.01). From the stroke frequency and stroke length perspective, two different strategies were observed. However, these were not related to the final results