| Our objective was to analyze the effect of gender on the relationship
between stroke rates corresponding to critical speed (SRCS) and maximal
speed of 30 min (SRS30) in young swimmers. Twenty two males (GM1)
(Age = 15.4 ± 2.1 yr., Body mass = 63.7 ± 12.9 kg, Stature = 1.73
± 0.09 m) and fourteen female (GF) swimmers (Age = 15.1 ± 1.6 yr.,
Body mass = 58.3 ± 8.8 kg, Stature = 1.65 ± 0.06 m) were studied.
A subset of males (GM2) was matched to the GF by their velocity for
a 30 min swim (S30). The critical speed (CS) was determined through
the slope of the linear regression line between the distances (200
and 400 m) and participant's respective times. CS was significantly
higher than S30 in males (GM1 - 1.25 and 1.16 and GM2 - 1.21 and 1.12
m·s-1) and females (GF - 1.15 and 1.11 m·s-1). There was no significant
difference between SRCS and SRS30 in males (GM1 - 34.16 and 32.32
and GM2 - 34.67 and 32.46 cycle·s-1, respectively) and females (GF
- 34.18 and 33.67 cycle·s-1, respectively). There was a significant
correlation between CS and S30 (GM1 - r = 0.89, GF - r = 0.94 and
GM2 - r = 0.90) and between SRCS and SRS30 (GM1 - r = 0.89, GF - r
= 0.80 and GM2 - r = 0.88). Thus, the relationship between SRCS and
SRS30 is not influenced by gender, in swimmers with similar and different
aerobic capacity levels.
KEY
WORDS: Swimming,
male, female, aerobic capacity.
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