Short-course performance variation across all race sections: How 100 and 200 m elite male swimmers progress between rounds

Introduction To investigate performance variation in all race sections, i. e. , start, clean swimming, and turns, of elite short-course races for all swimming strokes and to determine the effect of performance variation on race results. Methods Comparing finalists and non-qualified swimmers, a total of 256 races of male swimmers (n = 128, age: 23. 3 ± 3. 1, FINA points: 876 ± 38) competing in the European short-course swimming championships were analyzed. The coefficient of variation (CV) and relative change in performance (Δ%) were used to compare intra-individual performance progression between rounds and inter-individual differences between performance levels using a linear mixed model. Results While most performance variables declined during the races (P 0. 005), performance was better maintained in 200 m compared to 100 m races, as well as in finalists compared to non-qualified swimmers. In 100 m races, Start Times improved between heats, semi-finals, and finals (P 0. 005) and contributed to the improved Split Times of Lap 1 in freestyle (P = 0. 001, Δ = −1. 09%), breaststroke (P 0. 001; Δ = −2. 48%), and backstroke (P 0. 001; Δ = −1. 72%). Swimmers increased stroke rate from heats/semi-finals to finals in freestyle (P = 0. 015, Δ = 3. 29%), breaststroke (P = 0. 001, Δ = 6. 91%), and backstroke (P = 0. 005; Δ = 3. 65%). Increases in stroke length and clean-swimming speed were only significant between rounds for breaststroke and backstroke (P 0. 005). In 200 m races, Total Time remained unchanged between rounds (P 0. 05), except for breaststroke (P = 0. 008; CV = 0. 7%; Δ = −0. 59%). Start (P = 0. 004; Δ = −1. 72%) and Split Times (P = 0. 009; Δ = −0. 61%) only improved in butterfly. From the turn variables, OUT₅ m times improved towards the finals in breaststroke (P = 0. 006; Δ = −1. 51%) and butterfly (P = 0. 016; Δ = −2. 19%). No differences were observed for SR and SL, while clean-swimming speed improved between rounds in breaststroke only (P = 0. 034; Δ = 0. 96%). Discussion Performance of finalists progressed between rounds in 100 m but not 200 m races, most probably due to the absence of semi-finals. Progression in 100 m races was mainly attributed to improved Start and Split Times in Lap 1, while turn performances remained unchanged. Within round comparison showed higher performance maintenance in 200 m compared to 100 m events, which showed more pronounced positive pacing. Success of finalists was attributed to their overall higher performance level and superior progression between rounds.