Author/Authors :
Costa, Aldo M. University of Beira Interior - Department of Sport Sciences, Portugal , Marques, Mario C. University of Beira Interior - Department of Sport Sciences, Portugal , Marinho, Daniel A. University of Beira Interior - Department of Sport Sciences, Portugal , Silva, Antَnio J. Centre of Research in Sports, Health and Human Development., Portugal , Silva, Antَnio J. Centre of Research in Sports, Health and Human Development., Portugal , Louro, Hugo Centre of Research in Sports, Health and Human Development., Portugal , Reis, Victor M. Centre of Research in Sports, Health and Human Development. C, Portugal , Garrido, Nuno D. Centre of Research in Sports, Health and Human Development., Portugal
Abstract :
The aims of the present study were to assess critical velocity using the swimmer curriculum in front crawl events and to compare critical velocity to the velocity corresponding to a 4 mmol·l-1 of blood lactate concentration and to the velocity of a 30 min test. The sample included 24 high level male swimmers ranged between 14 and 16 years old. For each subject the critical velocity, the velocity corresponding to a 4 mmol·l-1 of blood lactate concentration and the mean velocity of a 30 min test were determined. The critical velocity was also estimated by considering the best performance of a swimmer over several distances based on the swimmer curriculum. Critical velocity including 100, 200 and 400 m events was not different from the velocity of 4 mmol·l-1 of blood lactate concentration. Critical velocity including all the swimmer events was not different from the velocity of a 30 min test. The assessment of critical velocity based upon the swimmer curriculum would therefore seem to be a good approach to determine the aerobic ability of a swimmer. The selection of the events to be included in critical velocity assessment must be a main concern in the evaluation of the swimmer.
