Estimating the energy contribution during single and repeated sprint swimming

The extent to which aerobic processes contribute to energy supply during short duration sprint swimming is not known. Therefore, the energy contribution to a maximal 30s fully tethered swim (FTS), and repeated 4×30s high intensity semi-tethered swimming bouts (STS) with 30s of passive rest at 95% of the 30s FTS intensity was estimated in eight elite male swimmers. Blood lactate concentration and pH after the 4×30s test were 12.1±3.6mmol/L and 7.2±0.1, respectively. Accumulated oxygen demand was estimated to be 50.9±9.6mL/kg and 48.3±8.4, 47.2±8.5, 47.4±8.3, and 45.6±6.8mL/kg for the 30s FTS and 4×30s bouts, respectively. Accumulated oxygen uptake was 16.6±3.6 for the 30s FTS and progressively increased during the 4×30s bouts 12.2±2.1, 21.6±2.5, 22.8±1.8, and 23.5±2.0mL/kg (P<0.01). The estimated aerobic contribution therefore was 33±8% for the 30s FTS and 25±4, 47±9, 49±8, 52±9% for bouts 1-4 during the 4×30s STS test (P<0.01). The results underline the importance of aerobic energy contribution during single and repeated high intensity swimming, which should be considered when prescribing swimming training sets of this nature. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd