Predicting dive start performance from kinematic variables at water entry in (sub-)elite swimmers

Marit P van Dijk, Peter J Beek and A J Knoek van Soest

PLOS ONE, 2020, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-19

Abstract: The dive start is an important component of competitive swimming, especially at shorter race distances. Previous research has suggested that start performance depends on kinematic variables pertaining to the swimmer at water entry, notably the distance from the block, the horizontal velocity of the centre of mass and the angle between body and water surface. However, the combined and relative contributions of these variables to start performance remain to be determined. The aim of the present study was therefore to develop a model to predict start performance (time from take-off to reaching the 15-m line) from a set of kinematic variables that collectively define the swimmer’s entry state. To obtain an appropriate database for this purpose, fifteen well-trained, (sub-)elite swimmers performed dive starts under different instructions intended to induce substantial variation in entry state. Kinematic data were extracted from video recordings of these starts, optimised and analysed statistically. A mixed effects analysis of the relation between entry state and start performance was conducted, which revealed a significant and robust dependence of start performance on entry state (χ2(3) = 88, p

Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0241345

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241345

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