Analysis of 50 m Backstroke Class S4 Disabled Swimmers Race Parameters

Abstract

The aim of the article – to determine and compare S4 disabled swimmers 50 m backstroke race parameters and tactic of Lithuanian Disabled Swimming Championships winner and World Disabled swimming Championships finalists. The results of 2013 Lithuanian Disabled Swimming Championships 50 m backstroke winner were recorded by hand stopwatches. The race distance was divided into parts (15 m for start, swimming part, 5 m for finish). The winner’s speed (m/s), the average length of strokes (cycles/minute) and the average stroke length (m) were calculated, as well as the means of same data of the finalists and winners of 2010 and 2013 World Disabled Swimming Championships. 2010 and 2013 World Disabled Swimming Championships (at 50 m swimming pool) data on different race parts  and the number of cycles of 50 m finalists were taken  from the International Paralympic Committee protocols. The results of the research showed that 2010 Lithuanian Disabled Swimming Championships 50 m backstroke winner started the race slowly and swam the second 25 m part at an increasing speed, thus applying the slow start and fast finish tactic. Most 2010 World Disabled Swimming Championships 50 m backstroke finalists applied the fast start tactic. 2013 World Disabled Swimming Championships 50 m backstroke finalists applied the steady swimming speed tactic and swam the last 5 finish meters faster than the finalists of 2010 World Disabled Swimming Championships.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.mech.22.5.12743