SPECIFIC STRATEGY FOR THE MEDALLISTS VERSUS FINALISTS AND SEMI FINALISTS IN THE MEN'S 200 M FREESTYLE AT THE SYDNEY OLYMPIC GAMES

Abstract

The performances of the men's 200 m freestyle at the Sydney Olympic games (final and semi-final) were studied using 12 video cameras. The four 50 m velocities, stroke frequency, stroke length, and turn velocities were calculated using a competition analysis computer program. The medallists swam faster than the non-medallist finalists in the Znd, 3rd and 4th 50 m. They also swam faster in the 2nd and 3rd turns. For the 16 swimmers. the 200 m freestyle velocity was mainly related to the velocity of the 2nd 50 m (r = 0.95; p<0.01), and to the velocity of the last turn (r = 0.73; p<0.01). For the stroke frequency and stroke length, three different strategies were observed. However, these strategies were not related to the final result.