Thanopoulos, V., Rozi, G., & Platanou, T. (2010). Lactate concentration comparison between 100 m freestyle and tethered swimming of equal duration. A paper presented at the XIth International Symposium for Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming, Oslo, June 16–19, 2010.

This study compared lactic acid production in both tests of maximum effort and equal time: a) in 100 m freestyle and b) in tethered swimming to determine if one or both are related to 100 m swimming performance. National level swimmers (N = 12) swam 100 m freestyle with maximum intensity and time performance. Blood lactate accumulation was measured after each exercise. Two days later, the Ss were tested in tethered swimming, in equal time to that they achieved in 100 m. In order to determine maximum concentration of lactate in the two different tests, samples of blood were taken in the third, fifth, and seventh minutes of recovery.

The average maximum accumulation of lactate in 100 m freestyle was ~11.09 mmol/l, while in tethered swimming ~10.27 mmol/l. The average time performance in 100 m freestyle as well as in tethered swimming was ~58.74. There was a significant correlation between performance time of 100 m freestyle and mean strength in tethered swimming (r= -0.63). No significant correlation was found between performance time in 100 m freestyle and accumulation of lactate.

Implication. Lactate accumulation is not related to 100 m swimming performance. Strength exhibited in tethered swimming is related to 100 m performance, but accounts for less than 40% of performance variance.

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