%0 Journal Article
%T Women achieve peak freestyle swim speed at earlier ages than men
%A R邦st CA
%A Knechtle B
%A Rosemann T
%J Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine
%D 2012
%I Dove Medical Press
%R http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OAJSM.S38174
%X men achieve peak freestyle swim speed at earlier ages than men Original Research (978) Total Article Views Authors: R邦st CA, Knechtle B, Rosemann T Published Date November 2012 Volume 2012:3 Pages 189 - 199 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OAJSM.S38174 Received: 15 September 2012 Accepted: 23 October 2012 Published: 12 November 2012 Christoph Alexander R邦st,1 Beat Knechtle,1,2 Thomas Rosemann1 1Institute of General Practice and for Health Services Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; 2Gesundheitszentrum St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland Background: The age of peak swim performance has been investigated for freestyle swimmers for distances ranging from 50 m to 1500 m among swimmers aged 19 to 99 years. However, studies have yet to investigate the 10 to 19 year-old age group. The aims of the present study were (1) to investigate the age range of peak freestyle swim speed, and (2) to find differences in age range and peak freestyle swim speed between male and female freestyle swimmers from 50 m to 1500 m at a national level. Methods: The changes in age range and peak freestyle swim speed among Swiss elite freestyle swimmers aged 0每9 years and 70每79 years who were ranked on the Swiss high score list between 2006 and 2010 were analyzed using linear regression analyses and analysis of variance. Results: Men were fastest at ages 22每23 years for 100 m and 200 m; at ages 24每25 years for 400 m and 800 m; and at 26每27 years for 50 m and 1500 m. Women achieved peak freestyle swim speed at ages 20每21 years for all distances with the exception of 800 m. In the 800 m, women were fastest at ages 26每27 years. The difference in peak freestyle swim speed decreased with increasing swim distance from 50 m to 800 m (ie, 13.1% ㊣ 1.3% in 50 m; 13.2% ㊣ 0.9% in 100 m; 10.8% ㊣ 0.9% in 200 m; 7.9% ㊣ 1.3% in 400 m; and 4.2% ㊣ 2.0% in 800 m). For 1500 m, however, the gender difference increased to 6.4% ㊣ 2.3%. Conclusion: These findings suggest that peak freestyle swim speed is achieved at lower age ranges in women when compared to men at 50 m to 1500 m, but not at 800 m. The gender difference in peak freestyle swim speed decreased with increasing swim distance from 50 m to 800 m, but not for 1500 m. These data should be confirmed with swimmers at an international level.
%K gender
%K performance
%K endurance
%K athlete
%U https://www.dovepress.com/women-achieve-peak-freestyle-swim-speed-at-earlier-ages-than-men-peer-reviewed-article-OAJSM