The relative importance of selected kinematic variables in relation to swimming performance in elite male and elite female 100m and 200m breaststroke swimmers

The aim of the present study was to identify, from multiple regression equations, the relative importance of selected kinematic variables with regard to finishing time (FT) for elite male and female 100m and 200m breaststroke swimmers. Competitive performances were collected and analysed (using digitising technology) for A and B finalists in 100m events (male: n = 159, FT = 65.07 ± 2.62 s; female: n = 157, FT = 74.06 ± 3.66 s) and 200m events (male: n = 172, FT = 142.71 ± 7.41 s; female: n = 172, FT = 159.92 ± 8.73 s) from 12 world, international and national championships. Swimming velocity was identified as the primary determinant of FT in all events, while turning time was a secondary determinant in all events except in the men's 100m, where start time was observed to be relatively more important. End time was of only limited importance in the women's 100m and men's 200m, while stroke rate and stroke length were poorly related to FT and so were excluded from the regression equations. Data from cross validation groups (men's 100m, n = 29; women's 100m, n = 28; men's 200m, n = 56; women's 200m, n = 56) demonstrated that predictions of FT would be acceptable to coaches of competitive swimmers.