Key result
Swimming in a wetsuit in 10 °C water resulted in no participant dropping >2 °C in rectal temperature during the first 30 minutes, though responses were highly individual.
Why the study?
Low water temperatures are increasingly faced in northern European triathlons, warranting more knowledge on how cold water affects athletes swimming in wetsuits.
Does swimming in a wetsuit in 10 °C water cause a significant drop in core temperature in triathletes?
Observational (n=20)
Does swimming in a wetsuit in 10 °C water cause a significant drop in core temperature in triathletes?
Swimming in 10 °C water in a wetsuit maintains core temperature for the first 30 minutes, but prolonged exposure may lead to significant hypothermia in nearly half of athletes.
Supports short-duration wetsuit safety in cold water; leaves open prolonged-exposure risks from individual variability.
Low water temperature (<15 °C) has been faced by many organizers of triathlons and swim-runs in the northern part of Europe during recent years. More knowledge about how cold water affects athletes swimming in wetsuits in cold water is warranted. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate the physiological response when swimming a full Ironman distance (3800 m) in a wetsuit in 10 °C water. Twenty triathletes, 37.6 ± 9 years (12 males and 8 females) were recruited to perform open water swimming in 10 °C seawater; while rectal temperature (Tre) and skin temperature (Tskin) were recorded. The results showed that for all participants, Tre was maintained for the first 10-15 min of the swim; and no participants dropped more than 2 °C in Tre during the first 30 min of swimming in 10 °C water. However; according to extrapolations of the results, during a swim time above 135 min; 47% (8/17) of the participants in the present study would fall more than 2 °C in Tre during the swim. The results show that the temperature response to swimming in a wetsuit in 10 °C water is highly individual. However, no participant in the present study dropped more than 2 °C in Tre during the first 30 min of the swim in 10 °C water.
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Melau et al. (2019) conducted an observational in Healthy triathletes (n=20). Swimming in a wetsuit in 10 °C water was evaluated on Physiological response (rectal and skin temperature). Swimming in a wetsuit in 10 °C water resulted in no participant dropping >2 °C in rectal temperature during the first 30 minutes, though responses were highly individual.
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