title: Characteristics of elite open-water swimmers.
abstract: Open-water swimming (5, 10, and 25 km) has many unique challenges that separate it from other endurance sports, like marathon running and cycling. The characteristics of a successful open-water swimmer are unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the physical and metabolic characteristics of a group of elite-level open-water swimmers. The open-water swimmers were participating in a 1-week training camp. Anthropometric, metabolic, and blood chemistry assessments were performed on the athletes. The swimmers had a VO(2)peak of 5.51 +/- 0.96 and 5.06 +/- 0.57 ml.kg(-1).min(-1) for males and females, respectively. Their lactate threshold (LT) occurred at a pace equal to 88.75% of peak pace for males and 93.75% for females. These elite open-water swimmers were smaller and lighter than competitive pool swimmers. They possess aerobic metabolic alterations that resulted in enhanced performance in distance swimming. Trainers and coaches should develop dry-land programs that will improve the athlete's muscular endurance. Furthermore, programs should be designed to increase the LT velocity as a percentage of peak swimming velocity.
authors.affiliation: University of Connecticut, Department of Kinesiology, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA. vanheest@uconn.edu
authors.forename: Jaci L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: VanHeest
authors.forename: Carrie E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Mahoney
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Herr
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold; D000886:Anthropometry; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008660:Metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D012016:Reference Values; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D014481:United States