CREATINE SUPPLEMENTATION IMPROVES SPRINT SWIMMING PERFORMANCES
Selsby, J. T., Beckett, K. D., Kern, M., Devor, S. T. (2003). Swim performance following creatine supplementation in Division III athletes. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 17, 421-424.
Creatine supplementation has yielded inconsistent results when applied to competitive swimming. To further define the role of creatine, the hypothesis that creatine supplementation in a group of Division III swimmers (M = 8; F = 7) would demonstrate enhanced performance when compared with placebo was tested. Ss were assigned to either a creatine supplementation group (0.3 g/kg body mass) or a placebo group. Loading was maintained for five days followed by a nine-day period where creatine-supplemented Ss consumed 2.25 g creatine regardless of body weight. A 50- and 100-yd sprint was performed prior to and following the supplementation regimens.
The creatine supplementation group members decreased their finish times in both the 50- and 100-yd sprints.
Implication. Creatine supplementation is effective for singular effort sprint swimming distances of 50 and 100 yd in Division III athletes.