This study assessed the effect of oxygen uptake (V̇O₂) kinetics on swimming performance on 100-m (V100) and 800-m (V800) races. In male pubertal swimmers trained competitively for 4–5 years, pulling force (Fave) and V̇O₂ kinetics were measured in tethered swimming, and V̇O₂ amplitude (V̇O₂\₀) and time constant (τ) were calculated. Biological age (BA) and such physical characteristics as body mass (BM), skeletal muscle mass of body segments, fat-free mass (FFM), and total body length (TBL) were considered in mutual interdependence and in the context of their influence on swimming performance. Depending on the significant differences in BA, swimmers were divided into early maturing and late maturing, and these groups presented differences in V̇O₂ kinetics and in Fave in relation to V̇O₂ and BM. Considering all swimmers, V̇O₂ in the subsequent 10-s periods was positively related to Fave, muscle mass of particular body segments, TBL, and BA. The same was observed between subsequent Fave in 10-s periods and V̇O₂\₀ and body physical indicators: muscle mass, TBL, and BA. Longer τ was not positively related to V100 or V800; e. g. , the indicator of V̇O₂ kinetics (V̇O₂ 31–60) was strongly related to FFM (0. 60; p < 0. 001), Fave1-60 (0. 72; p < 0. 001), and, though to a lesser extent, to TBL (0. 44; p < 0. 001). The collected physiological and anthropometric data mostly strongly influenced V100 and mostly moderately influenced V800; TBL was a weaker (did not reach the significance threshold) predictor of swimming performance. V̇O₂ kinetics constitutes an appropriate indicator of well-trained physiological predispositions, which translate into skillfully performed front crawl races (V100, V800). The results indicate that physiologically more mature pubertal swimmers—typically characterized by greater muscle mass and higher strength—tend to achieve better front crawl performance over 100 m and 800 m.
Strzała et al. (Tue,) studied this question.