Abstract

During swimming power is lost in pushing off against water that gives away. The power lost cannot be used anymore to propel the swimmer. The percentage of the overall external power production which is used for propelling, is called propelling efficiency (ep). It is expected that swimmers with a good swimming technique lose less power than swimmers with a less well swimming technique. Second, it is expected that swimmers with bigger hands, and thus a larger propelling surface, lose less power than swimmers with small hands. To test these hypotheses, the eps of triathletes were compared with the eps of elite swimmers and the eps of the elite swimmers were compared while swimming normal and swimming with handpaddles which enlarged the propelling surface. Thus, both swimming technique and enlargement of propelling surface bring about a higher ep. At the same time elite swimmers can reach a higher velocity as triathletes and while swimming with handpaddles they can reach a higher velocity than without handpaddles. It is concluded that ep is an important factor in determinating maximal swimming velocity. Verf.-Referat