Changes in breaststroke swimming performances in national and international athletes competing between 1994 and 2011 -a comparison with freestyle swimming performances.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the present study was to analyse potential changes in performance of elite breaststroke swimmers competing at national and international level and to compare to elite freestyle swimming performance.


METHODS
Temporal trends in performance of elite breaststroke swimmers were analysed from records of the Swiss Swimming Federation and the FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation) World Swimming Championships during the 1994-2011 period. Swimming speeds of elite female and male breaststroke swimmers competing in 50 m, 100 m, and 200 m were examined using linear regression, non-linear regression and analysis of variance. Results of breaststroke swimmers were compared to results of freestyle swimmers.


RESULTS
Swimming speed in both strokes improved significantly (p < 0.0001-0.025) over time for both sexes, with the exception of 50 m breaststroke for FINA men. Sex differences in swimming speed increased significantly over time for Swiss freestyle swimmers (p < 0.0001), but not for FINA swimmers for freestyle, while the sex difference remained stable for Swiss and FINA breaststroke swimmers. The sex differences in swimming speed decreased significantly (p < 0.0001) with increasing race distance.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study showed that elite male and female swimmers competing during the 1994-2011 period at national and international level improved their swimming speed in both breaststroke and freestyle. The sex difference in freestyle swimming speed consistently increased in athletes competing at national level, whereas it remained unchanged in athletes competing at international level. Future studies should investigate temporal trends for recent time in other strokes, to determine whether this improvement is a generalized phenomenon.
Institute of General Practice and for Health Services Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland ; Cardiovascular Center Cardiology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
Mathias
M
Wolfrum
Institute of General Practice and for Health Services Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Christoph Alexander
CA
Rüst
Institute of General Practice and for Health Services Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Thomas
T
Rosemann
INSERM U1093, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France.
Romuald
R
Lepers
Institute of General Practice and for Health Services Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland ; Gesundheitszentrum St. Gallen, Vadianstrasse 26, 9001 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Beat
B
Knechtle
Gender difference; Men; Sex-related difference; Swimming speed; Women