STROKE INDEX VALUES ACCORDING TO LEVEL, GENDER, SWIMMING STYLE AND EVENT RACE DISTANCE

Abstract

The performance of swimmers competing in all events at the First World Short Course Championships and at the XXXVII Winter Spanish Championship were videotaped and analyzed to determine stroke length (SL), stroke rate (SR), average velocity (v) and stroke index (SI); relationships were then taking into account the final time (FT), level, gender, swimming style and event distance. Results revealed significant correlation between SI and FT at both championships in all the butterfly race distances. SI may be used as performance index being significantly greater in male swimmers than female in all the events, independently of their level. The freestyle had the greatest SI followed by the backstroke, butterfly and breaststroke. The general tendency indicates that as the distance of the race increases the SI decreases.