SPECIFIC STRATEGY FOR THE MEDALISTS VERSUS FINALISTS AND SEMI FINALISTS IN THE WOMEN'S 200 M BACKSTROKE AT THE SYDNEY OLYMPIC GAMES

Abstract

The performances of the women's 200 m backstroke at the Sydney Olympic games (final and semi-final) were studied using 12 video cameras. For each 50 m lap, the velocities, stroke frequency, strokc length, and turn velocities were calculated using a specific competition analysis computer program. The medallists swam faster than the non-medallists finalist in all four laps. They had a higher stroke frequency and longer stroke length throughout the race. For the whole group (n = 16), the 200 m backstroke velocity was mainly related to the third lap (r = 0.95, p<0.01). For the stroke frequency and stroke length. 3 different sb-ategies were observed. The faster swimmers swam with a high stroke frequency and a low stroke length while the slower swimmers did the opposite.