Abstract

FARAH, Breno Quintella; SILVA, Windson Carlos Motta; SANTOS, Marcos André  and  MELO, Wilson Viana de Castro. Descriptive analysis of performance in the female 100 meters free swimming based on biomechanics variables. Rev. Bras. Educ. Fís. Esporte [online]. 2010, vol.24, n.04, pp.463-469. ISSN 1981-4690.

Abstract The performance evaluation of swimmers is based on many methodologies of watching the competition. Biomechanical variables represent an important resource for analyzing the performance of swimmers because they are simple and objective indicators of swimming efficiency. The objective of this research was to observe how biomechanical variables affect swimmers’ performance in of the female 100 meters freestyle in order to observe the behavior and influence stroke length (SL), stroke frequency (SF), swimming velocity (SV), swimming index (SI), average speed (AS), time of departure (Td), time of turning (Tt). On swimming performance images were captured using a mini-DV camera, which were subsequently analyzed with the help of a software video editor. The variables SL, SV and SI were indirectly measured, without considering start and turning phases. Td and Tt were obtained through the timeline of the software. Data analysis shows for athlete 1: SL = 2.00 m, SF = 0.89 hz, SV = 1.78 m/s, SI = 3.56 m²/s, athlete 2: SL = 1.82 m, SF = 0,97Hz, SV = 1.76 m/s, SI = 3.20 m²/s, athlete 3: SL = 1.91 m, SF = 0.92 Hz, SV = 1.75 m/s, SI = 3.32 m²/s. We concluded that the final performance presented similar behavior in the first three parts of the race, indicating a similar influence of these variables on the performance of athletes. In the last quarter of the race showed that variables have greater interference in the final performance, this probably due to a possible decrease in mechanical efficiency of swimming due to increase in drag and reduction in propulsive force.

Keywords : Biomechanics; Swimming; Stroke Length; Stroke Frequency; Swimming Index.

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