The paper entitled “Dynamics of the metabolic response during a competitive 100-m freestyle in elite male swimmers“, by Philippe Hellard, Robin Pla, Ferran A. Rodríguez, David Simbana and David B. Pyne, has been published in the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance (JCR IF: 2.654).
The study compared the dynamics of V̇O2, blood lactate ([La]b), total energy expenditure (Etot), and contributions of anaerobic alactic (Ean,al), anaerobic lactic (Ean,lac), and aerobic (Eaer) metabolic energy pathways over four consecutive 25-m laps (L0-25, L25-50, L50-75, L75-100) of a 100-m maximal swim. Fifty junior and senior elite swimmers performed 100 m at maximal speed, and then three trials (25, 50 and 75 m) at the same pace as that of the 100 m. The estimated energetic contributions (%Etot) for the 100-m trial were: Eaer 44 ± 7%, Ean,al 33 ± 4%, Ean,lac 23 ± 7%. Faster swimmers were characterized by higher peak V̇O2, and less time to reach the highest V̇O2 at ~50 m of the 100-m swim. Anaerobic qualities become more important with age.
This project was carried out in collaboration with the Research Department of the French Swimming Federation, the Laboratoire for Sport, Expertise, Performance (INSEP), the Centre d’Études des Transformations des Activités Physiques et Sportives (CETAPS), University of Rouen Normandy, the Research Institute for Sport and Exercise (University of Canberra), and the Physiology department of the Australian Institute of Sport.
