Involvement in Multiple Race Events Among International Para and Non-disabled Swimmers

Bibliographic Data

ID13130588
AuthorsJulien Schipman (0000-0002-4111-6005, Institut National du Sport, de l'Expertise et de la Performance), Guillaume Saulière (0000-0001-8263-6456, Institut National du Sport, de l'Expertise et de la Performance), Bryan Le Toquin (0000-0001-7858-6126, Institut National du Sport, de l'Expertise et de la Performance), Andy Marc (Institut National du Sport, de l'Expertise et de la Performance), Nicolas Forstmann (0000-0003-1364-8300, Institut National du Sport, de l'Expertise et de la Performance), Jean‐françois Toussaint (0000-0002-0411-2363, Institut National du Sport, de l'Expertise et de la Performance), Adrien Sedeaud (0000-0002-8492-3579, Institut National du Sport, de l'Expertise et de la Performance)
Year2021
Volume2
Pages608777-608777
Publication date2021-01-28
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Sports and Active Living (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2624-9367 • E-ISSN: 2624-9367
PublisherFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fspor.2020.608777
PMID33585812
OpenAlexW3125702326
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited32

International elite Para swimmers form a large portion of the overall multi-medalist winning population. For the highest performing Para swimmers, world class performances were achieved across different strokes. The aim of this study was to quantify the level of involvement across different events and to examine this in relation to the level of performance. The performances in swimming speed of the top 100 females and males for both Para- and non-disabled swimmers were collected in 11 race events between 2009 and 2019 (4,400 performances for 307 Para females and 365 Para males, 605 non-disabled females, and 715 non-disabled males). We tallied the number of events in which each swimmer was involved. Swimmers were grouped according to the total number of race events in which they participated. Then the association between involvement and level of performance was investigated. Para swimmers with impairment from classes seven to 14 were involved in a range of race events across different strokes. The most common combination for both Para and non-disabled athletes was over similarly distanced races of the same stroke (50 and 100 m freestyle). The more race events in which Para swimmers involved, the higher the level of performance that was achieved. This trend can partially be explained by the less concentrated competition pool for Para swimmers compared to able-bodied swimmers. Para swimmers with minimal and no physical impairment perform in multiple race events more often than able-bodied swimmers. Fewer Para swimmers at the international level and a less concentrated competition pool could explain these differences

Athletes · Biology · Physical medicine and rehabilitation · Physical therapy · Population · Race (biology · Demography · Inclusion and Disability in Education and Sport · Injury Epidemiology and Prevention · Medicine · Psychology · Sports injuries and prevention

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