PREDICTION MODELS FOR FREESTYLE PERFORMANCE TIMES IN MASTER SWIMMERS

Abstract

This study was designed to define the most important factors to predict freestyle performance times in 135 elite master swimmers by prediction models which include age, anthropometric and strength variables. To cross validate these equations found for Elite swimmers, we used a group composed by 126 lower technical level age - and experience - matched master swimmers. Results demonstrated that age, height and hand grip strength were the best predictors in short events, whereas age and height predict middle and long events. The corresponding coefficients of determination (R2) of performance times were 0.84 in 50m, 0.73 in 100m, 0.75 in 200m, 0.66 in 400m and 0.63 in the 800m events. A good correlation have been found when these models have been applied in 126 non-elite master swimmers demonstrating to be useful in all Master swimmers.