Variability and progression in competitive performance of Paralympic swimmers

Abstract

Analysis of variability and progression in performance of top athletes between competitions provides information about performance targets that is useful for athletes, practitioners, and researchers. In this study, 724 official finals times were analysed for 120 male and 122 female Paralympic swimmers in the 100-m freestyle event at 15 national and international competitions between 2004 and 2006. Separate analyses were performed for males and females in each of four Paralympic subgroups: S2–S4, S5–S7, S8–S10 (most through least physically impaired), and S11–S13 (most through least visually impaired). Mixed modelling of log-transformed times, with adjustment for mean competition times, was used to estimate variability and progression. Within-swimmer race-to-race variability, expressed as a coefficient of variation, ranged from 1.2% (male S5–S7) to 3.7% (male S2–S4). Swimming performance progressed by approximately 0.5% per year for males and females. Typical variation in mean performance time between competitions was ～1% after adjustment for the ability of the athletes in each competition, and the Paralympic Games was the fastest competition. Thus, taking into account variability, progression, and level of competition, Paralympic swimmers who want to increase substantially their medal prospects should aim for an annual improvement of at least 1–2%.     

Physiologic Effects of Distance Running Training on Teenage Females1

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate selected physiological changes that occurred with distance training in teenage females. Two groups of untrained teenage females were matched on [Vdot]O₂ max, percent utilization of [Vdot]O ₂ @ 9.66 km/hr, peak heart rate, and percent body fat. One group served as control (n = 9) while the other (n =10) underwent a 20-week training program designed to gradually increase the subjects' average mileage from 0 to 32.2 km per week. At the end of the 20 weeks, a MANOVA revealed significant mean differences within the trained group and no significant mean differences within the control group. The univariate analysis revealed that significant (p <0.05) mean differences found within the training group were for [Vdot]O ₂ max (45.1 vs. 49.3 ml · kg ^–1 · min ^–1 ), percent utilization of [Vdot]O ₂ @9.66 km/hr (76.5% vs. 67.5%), and economy VO ₂ @9.66 km/hr (34.5vs.33.2 ml · kg ^–1 · min ^–1 ). Of the variables which exhibited significant training effects, percent utilization of [Vdot]O ₂ max showed the greatest relative change, a 12.2% decrease, with [Vdot]O ₂ max showing a 9.3% increase. The posttest results were similar to the research literature for training effects found for males and other age groups.     

Coaching athletes with disability: preconceptions and reality

It is now widely recognized that athletes with disability compete at an elite level which parallels that experienced by non-disabled athletes. The importance of quality coaching to develop an athlete’s full potential is similarly recognized. However, research in the area of coaching athletes with disability is still lacking compared to its counterpart in non-disabled sport. This research explored the holistic experience of coaching elite athletes with disability, and therefore encompassed not only the coaches’ preconceptions, but the rewards and challenges of their coaching experience. Semi-structured interviews were held with 12 coaches of elite athletes from sports including swimming, athletics, cycling, canoeing, triathlon, equestrian sport and wheelchair basketball. The results of the study identified that, although the coaches reported their experience as being overwhelmingly positive, they were also regularly confronted with difficulties not generally faced by coaches of non-disabled athletes.     

Reliability of pedometer-determined free-living physical activity data in college women

This study examined stability and reliability of free-living physical activity assessed by pedometer in 69 young female college students (M age = 18.7 years, SD = 1.2, range: 18-25 years; body mass index = 23.2 kg/m2, SD = 0.6) for two complete weeks (Week 1 and Week 2) separated by 12 weeks. During Week 1, participants took an average of 8880 steps/day, SD = 3219, range: 1858-19480; during Week 2 9088 steps/day, SD = 3299, range 1736-16837; t (68) = -.568, p = .572. In both weeks, only Sunday differed significantly (repeated measures analysis of variance; Week 1: p < .0001; Week 2: p < .01) from all other days of the week. The computed intraclass correlation between weeks was moderate (.72). Group mean pedometer-determined physical activity was stable across 2 weeks separated by 12 weeks in this young, healthy sample of women. Individuals within these groups held their rank order to a moderate extent over time. These findings provide important evidence of the reliability of pedometer-determined physical activity data and are of practical importance to study design.