Dr.Hab., Professor V.R. Solomatin¹
Corresponding member RAE, Dr.Hab., Professor N.Zh. Bulgakova^1
1Russian State University of Physical Education, Sports, Youth and Tourism (SCOLIPE), Moscow

 Keywords: elite swimmers, aerobic and anaerobic working capacity, competitive training method.

 

Introduction. The main goal of each training process is to achieve high sports results by developing leading physical qualities in athletes. In cyclic sports, including swimming, it is endurance that stands in as such a quality [1, 2, 4-6]. The main competitive distances in swimming are in the anaerobic alactic (50m), anaerobic glycolytic (100m, 200m) and mixed aerobic-anaerobic training zones (400m, 800m and 1500m) [1, 6-8]. In addition, the proper choice and dosage of training and competitive loads require accurate knowledge of the nature and magnitude of physiological changes occurring in a swimmer’s body under the influence of exercises used [2-4, 6]. The main types of competitive swimming exercises vary in terms of their mechanical efficiency, amount of muscle mass involved in work, and work mode of the muscles, which is reflected in the predominant direction of the urgent training effect [1].

Objective of the study was to improve aerobic capacities of elite swimmers.

Methods and structure of the study. 42 male and 22 female swimmers were subject to the study. The sample’s performance was tested by 50/100/200/400m swimming at maximal speed using front and back crawl, butterfly strokes or breaststroke.

The training process effects were tested by the gas exchange rates (oxygen consumption, lung ventilation, excess non-metabolic CO2) [4, 6].

Results and discussion. We conducted a comparative analysis of the results of maximal-speed 50m to 400m swimming tests using four swimming strokes. The young males were found to have the greatest shifts on the part of their aerobic functions (oxygen consumption and lung ventilation) in the 100m to 400m front crawl and butterfly swimming, the lowest - when swimming back crawl and breaststroke in the same races. On the part of anaerobic metabolism, the high ExcCO2 values were recorded in the 100m front/ back crawl and butterfly swimmers, in the 200 m butterfly and breaststroke swimmers. One-time 50m race covered using four swimming strokes did not promote the development of anaerobic glycolytic and aerobic metabolism due to time shortage. Any achievements in these races are due to pre-developed high levels of speed, strength and alactic anaerobic capacities. The presented picture is typical for the deployment of energy supply of muscular work depending on the time of its performance [4-7].

The most significant shifts in anaerobic metabolism against the background of the high aerobic metabolism values were noted when swimming butterfly. This stroke is characterized by a parallel increase in the levels of oxygen consumption (VO2) and ExcCO2, i.e. the workload is somewhat more "anaerobic" than in other swimming strokes. This proves the reputation of the butterfly stroke as a universal means of development of the functional and strength abilities of swimmers.

The effect of the 100m to 400m races swum front/ back crawl and butterfly at maximal speed is of a mixed aerobic-anaerobic nature.

When swimming breaststroke, the subjects demonstrated the lowest VO2, lung ventilation, ExcCO2 indices as compared to other strokes. This stroke is mainly of aerobic nature, which is largely determined by the specialization of the given sample. Since most of the athletes swam front crawl and butterfly, this indicated that lower technical fitness in terms of their strokes – back crawl and breaststroke – prevented them from realizing their functional potencies in these strokes. This once again confirms the role of specialized training in swimming for the realization of these potencies.

The comparative analysis of the women’s competitive swimming results revealed that the greatest shifts in the aerobic functions occurred in 50m to 400m front crawl swimming, 100m to 400m butterfly swimming, 200m back crawl and breaststroke swimming.

The relatively high anaerobic glycolytic indices were obtained during 100m to 400m front crawl and butterfly swimming, 200m back crawl swimming, the highest – during 100m to 400 m breaststroke swimming. A similar picture indicates the role of motor specialization in realization of the functional potencies, since the main part of the female athletes specialized in front crawl swimming.

The data obtained indicate that one-time 100m to 400m front crawl and butterfly swimming is of a mixed aerobic-anaerobic nature for the females. Swimming back crawl develops primarily the aerobic function.

The breaststroke was characterized by the lowest VO2 values against the background of the highest ExcCO2 indices. Such an impact can be deemed as a response to a nonspecific load, which does not allow for the development of aerobic energy supply due to the rapid accumulation of the oxygen debt (reverse Pasteur effect).

The bodily response to competitive swimming loads is largely determined by the individual level of development of aerobic and anaerobic capacities of the athletes. An integral indicator characterizing the degree of involvement of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism in the total energy production during muscular work is the ratio of the overall carbon dioxide production to the level of excess non-metabolic CO2 (VCO2/ExcCO2) [1, 4, 6]. This ratio shows how many times the level of oxidative processes in tissues exceeds the rate of glycolysis. The higher the ratio, the higher the share of aerobic metabolism, and, conversely, the lower the ratio, the higher the share of anaerobic metabolism in the energy supply of this type of workload.

The individual body response specifics under competitive loads were identified by analyzing the dependence of changes in the VCO2/ExCCO2 rates on the individual VO2max and ExCCO2max rates when swimming the 50m to 400m distances using four swimming strokes.

Thus, the 50m swimming test showed that in the male swimmers tested with the relatively high VO2 (above 4.8 l/ min) and ЕхсСО2 (above 1.5 l/ min) indices the VCO2/ExcCO2 ratio was within 3.5–4.5 c.u., and that with a decrease in the VO2max and ExcCO2 indices the load acquired a more aerobic nature (the VCO2/ ExcCO2 ratio increased to 7 c.u.).

In the 100m race, the swimmers tested with the high absolute VO2max and ExcCO2 were found to have a significant increase in the intensity of anaerobic shifts and the share of anaerobic metabolism in the total energy production during muscular work (the VCO2/ExcCO2 ratio decreased to 2.5-3.5 c.u.); for the swimmers tested with the lower VO2 and ExcCO2 indices the workload was of aerobic nature (the VCO2/ExcCO2 ratio increased sharply to 6.5-9.5 c.u.). In the 200m race the share of anaerobic metabolism does not depend on the individual VO2max and ExcCO2 rates (the VCO2/ExcCO2 ratio ranges between 3.5 to 5 c.u.). In the 400m race the VCO2/ExcCO2 ratio ranges between 5 and 6 c.u. for the swimmers tested with the high aerobic and anaerobic potential and increases to 9 c.u. for those tested with a decrease in the functional potential.

It follows that the 50m and 200m front crawl swimming in full coordination of movements is an effective way to increase the anaerobic working capacity of the swimmers tested with the relatively high absolute level of VO2max (above 4.8 l/ min) and ExcCO2 (above 1.5 l/ min). The swimmers tested with the relatively low VO2max and ExcCO2 indices are recommended to swim 200m. For the athletes tested with high functionality, 400m swimming is of mixed aerobic-anaerobic nature, for those with the relatively lower functional potential it improves aerobic performance for the most part.

Conclusion. The urgent training effects of the analyzed exercises and competitive distances depend on the individual functionality level of swimmers.

 

References

1. Solomatin V.R., Bulgakova N.Zh., Zhuravik A. Srochny trenirovochny effekt i sistematizatsiya spetsialnykh trenirovochnykh uprazhneniy v zavisimosti ot urovnya razvitiya aerobnykh i anaerobnykh vozmozhnostey plovtsov vysokogo klassa [Urgent training effect and systematization of special training exercises with regard to level of aerobic and anaerobic capacities of elite swimmers]. Teoriya i praktika fiz. kultury, 1996, no. 1, pp. 37-39.

2. Parfenov V.A., Platonov V.N. Trenirovka kvalifitsirovannykh plovtsov [Training skilled swimmers]. Moscow: Fizkultura i sport publ., 1979.

3. Platonov V.N., Vaytsekhovskiy S.M. Trenirovka plovtsov vysokogo klassa [Training highly skilled swimmers]. Moscow: Fizkultura i sport publ., 1985.

4. Solomatin V.R. Mediko-biologicheskie osnovy i metody razvitiya vynoslivosti. Ucheb. posobie [Biomedical basics and techniques of endurance development. Study guide]. Moscow: SCOLIPE publ., 1991.

5. Solomatin V.R. Kriterii srochnogo trenirovochnogo effekta spetsialnykh uprazhneniy i individualizatsiya podgotovki plovtsov vysokoy kvalifikatsii [Criteria for urgent training effect from special exercises and individualization of training in elite swimming]. Teoriya i praktika fiz. kultury, 2008, no. 10, pp. 68-71.

6. Solomatin V.R. Individualizatsiya mnogoletney trenirovki v sportivnom plavanii [Individualization of long-term training in competitive swimming]. Moscow: Fizicheskaya kultura publ, 2009, 241 p.

7. Solomatin V.R. Srochny trenirovochny effekt i sistematizatsiya spetsialnykh uprazhneniy v zavisimosti ot urovnya razvitiya funktsionalnykh vozmozhnostey plovtsov vysokogo klassa [Urgent training effect and systematization of special exercises with regard to functionality level of elite swimmers]. Uchenye zapiski un-ta im. P. F. Lesgafta, 2009, no.10 (56), pp. 97-101.

8. Solomatin V.R. Variativnost srochnykh trenirovochnykh effektov kak osnova sistematizatsii spetsialnykh uprazhneniy plovtsov [Variability of urgent term training effects as a basis for systematization of special exercises in competitive swimming]. Vestnik sportivnoy nauki, 2010, no. 2, pp. 25-27.

 

Corresponding author: nosorog52@mail.ru

 

Abstract

Objective of the study was to analyze the competitive training model benefits in the modern elite swimming sport; systematize bodily physiological responses to distance-specific workloads versus maximal aerobic and anaerobic capacities of elite swimmers. The 16-18 year-old Candidate Masters and Masters of Sport (42 males and 22 females) were subject to the study. The sample’s performance was tested by maximal-speed 50/100/200/400m front and back crawl, butterfly or breaststroke swimming, with the training process effects tested by the gas exchange rates. The study found benefits of the maximal-speed one-time 100/400m optional-style swimming for the aerobic capacity building in elite junior swimmers. To speed up the anaerobic capacity building process, the elite swimmers of both sexes tested with relatively high VO2max and ЕхсСО2 indices are recommended the one-time maximal-speed optional-style 50-400m swimming exercise; whilst the senior elite swimmers tested with the relatively low VO2max and ЕхсСО2 indices are recommended to swim 100/200m in the same way. For the functionality and strength building purposes, the above method may be combined with the 50-400m butterfly swimming.