Influence of block time in the final 50 and 100 meter swimming events classification

• Published in: Journal of Physical Education and Sport 2017-12, Vol.17 (4), p.2593-2598
• Main Authors: Valvassori, Raísa, Mezêncio, Bruno, De Arruda, Ademir Felipe Schultz, Soncin, Rafael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomechanics; Classification; Females; Males; Medicine; Olympic games; Reaction Time; Sport science; Studies; Swimming; Technical Education; Tournaments & championships; Training Methods
• ISSN: 2247-8051; 2247-806X
• DOI: 10.7752/jpes.2017.04295

In high level championships small details are able to define the swimming medalists. Overall 0.01 s represents just a short piece of swimming final time, but between elite swimmers just 1.12% of the final time performance in 50 meters freestyle are improved annually. In this perspective greater block time differences over swimming final time differences could change the importance of block time to the swimmers classification. Thus the aim was to investigate the influence of block time in the final sprint events (50 and 100m) classification, including seven FINA World Championships (2003-2015). Thereunto, were calculated the frequency of possible Classification Changes (CC), based on differences between block times (BT) and final times (FT) in each swimming event. Public data was collected at the Omega Timing website. Totally, 112 events and 894 individual results (447 men and 447 women) were analyzed. The Chi-Square test was used to verify the Classification Changes occurrence between strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly), event distances (50 and 100m), sex (male and female), block versions (traditional block used by FINA until 2007 - OSB9; and new block used by FINA from 2009 - OSB11), and years of championship (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015). Between strokes and distances, the Classification Changes effect was shown more frequent in backstroke and 50m (4.97% CC and 4.24% CC; respectively). In addition, although the new block version has been shown to reduce the block times, it did not affect notably the Classification Changes. However, overall differences in block times were greater than differences in final time events (3.44% CC). These findings emphasize the importance of BT and recommend the block start technical training to achieve better swimming classifications.