Effects of oxygen uptake kinetics on 100-m and 800-m front crawl performance in pubertal swimmers

Purpose This study assessed the effect of oxygen uptake V ̇O ₂ kinetics on swimming performance on 100-m (V100) and 800-m (V800) races. Method In male puberty swimmers, pulling force (Fave) and V ̇O ₂ kinetics were measured in tethered swimming, and V ̇O ₂ amplitude (V ̇O_(2\_A)) 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. Results Depending on the significant differences in BA, swimmers were divided into early maturing and late maturing, and these groups presented differences in V ̇O ₂ kinetics and in Fave in relation to V ̇O ₂ and BM. Considering all swimmers, V ̇O ₂ 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 V ̇O_(2_A) and body physical indicators: muscle mass, TBL, and BA. Longer τ was not positively related to V100 or V800; e.g., the indicator of V ̇O ₂ kinetics (V ̇O_231-60) was strongly related to FFM (0.60; p < 0.001), Fave1-60 (0.72; p < 0.001), and, though less significantly, 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 predictor of swimming performance. Conclusion s V ̇O ₂ kinetics constitutes an appropriate indicator of well-trained physiological predispositions, which translate into skillfully performed front crawl races (V100, V800). This study showed that stronger, denser, shorter, and, in general, physiologically more mature puberty swimmers have an advantage in front crawl races.