The preparation for a major competition is an important concern of coaches and athletes. Therefore, the
aim of this study was to evaluate the evolution in sprint performance during a training macro cycle in age-group
swimmers of both genders. The sample comprised twenty four age-group swimmers (12.0 ± 0.72 years old,
41.43 ± 6.88 kg, 1.51 ± 0.09 m). The evaluations occurred during nine weeks of swimming training in the first
macro cycle. During this period the subjects performed 54 training units (6 units per week). In all weeks, the
performance in two trials of a 25 m front crawl all out test, with 15 min of rest, was recorded. Only the best
performance was used to assess the effects of training. Comparisons between the first week and the following
weeks were conducted using pair-sample t-test. The significance level was set at 5%. The sprint performance did
not change during the first 6 weeks of preparation. In the last three weeks the performance in the 25 m front
crawl test was improved when compared with the first week, although the major changes occurred at the last
week of preparation.
It seems that in age-group swimmers seven weeks of specific swimming training enables improving
swimmer’s sprint performance, although some differences exists between male and female swimmers. These
data could be used by coaches to program the training season and the evolution of the load components
