The purpose of the study was to analyse relationships between
total energy expenditure (Etot), energy cost (EC), intra-cycle
variation of the horizontal velocity of displacement of centre of
mass (dv) and mean swimming velocity (v). 17 Portuguese
elite swimmers (4 at Freestyle, 5 at Backstroke, 4 at
Breaststroke and 4 at Butterfly) were submitted to an incremental
set of nx200-m swims. Bioenergetical and biomechanical
parameters presented significant interrelationships. For
pooled data, the relationship between Etot and v was r=0.59
(p<0.01), between EC and dv was r=0.38 (p<0.01) and the
polynomial relationship, between dv and v was r=0.17
(p=0.28). Individual evaluation and identification of biomechanical
critical points may help the swimmers to become
more efficient at a certain swimming velocity.
