Effects of training on performance in competitive swimming.
The relationships between the mean intensity of a training season, training volume and frequency, and the variations in performance were studied in a group of 18 elite swimmers. Additionally, differences between the swimmers who improved their personal record of the previous year during the follow-up training season (GIR, n = 8) and those who did not (GNI, n = 10) were investigated. The improvement in performance during the follow-up season was significantly correlated with the mean intensity of the training season (r = 0.69, p < 0.01), but not with training volume or frequency. The performance improvement during the follow-up season was negatively related to the initial performance level (r = 0.90, p < 0.01). The decline in performance during detraining from the previous year was less for the GIR than for the GNI (6.21 +/- 2.30% vs. 9.79 +/- 2.18%, p < 0.01). The present findings suggest that training intensity is the key factor in performance improvement in a group of elite swimmers. Factors such as previous detraining and initial performance level could jeopardize success in spite of a good adaptation to training.
Mujika
I
I
Laboratoire de Physiologie, Université Jean Monnet, Faculté de Médecine, Saint-Etienne, France.
Chatard
J C
JC
Busso
T
T
Geyssant
A
A
Barale
F
F
Lacoste
L
L
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D013550:Swimming / Q000193:education* / Q000502:physiology*
D007773:Lactates