title: The changes in age of peak swim speed for elite male and female Swiss freestyle swimmers between 1994 and 2012.
abstract: This study determined the age and its changes across years of peak swimming performance from 50 to 1,500 m freestyle. Data of 70,059 Swiss freestyle swimmers (33,725 women and 36,334 men) aged 10-40 years and competing from 50 to 1,500 m were analysed. The association between age and swimming speed of the annual ten fastest swimmers was investigated using single and multi-level hierarchical regression analyses. For women, age of peak swimming speed increased in 50 m from 18.9 (s = 2.3) to 20.4 (s = 4.2) years but decreased in 1,500 m from 25.0 (s = 13.1) (1996) to 18.1 (s = 3.7) years. For 100-800 m, age remained at 19.1 (s = 1.1), 19.3 (s = 1.1), 18.7 (s = 1.5) and 18.5 (s = 1.3) years, respectively. For men, age of peak swimming speed decreased in 50 m from 23.0 (s = 4.0) to 23.0 (s = 3.5) but remained for 100-1,500 m at 22.5 (s = 1.4), 21.4 (s = 0.9), 20.3 (s = 0.9), 20.3 (s = 0.9) and 20.3 (s = 1.1) years, respectively. Age was positively associated with swimming speed for 50-800 m, but negatively for 1,500 m. In conclusion, the age of peak swimming speed was younger in women compared to men for 50-800 m freestyle. For women, age of peak swimming speed increased in 50 m but decreased in 1,500 m freestyle across years. For men, age of peak swimming speed decreased in 50 m freestyle.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of General Practice and for Health Services Research , University of Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christoph Alexander
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rüst
authors.forename: Beat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Knechtle
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rosemann
authors.forename: Romuald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lepers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology* / Q000639:trends; D055815:Young Adult