Abstract des Autors

The aim of the present study was to see if a difference in depth of diving between front crawl and butterfly technique is reflected in corresponding differences in a starting action prior the first contact with water. Ten swimmers (age 16.7+/-1.3 y, height 174.2+/-7.2 cm, mass 64.9+/-7.8 kg) participated in the study. Each swimmer performed 4 (2 crawl and 2 butterfly) grab swimming starts followed by swimming with maximal velocity for 17 meters. Swimmers were filmed with a 50 Hz video camera. A 2D kinematical model was employed to obtain the joint angles and linear and angular velocities. Statistical differences between both styles were checked. The results showed that no statistically significant differences at the starting position and at the first water contact between both styles existed. During the last contact an the starting block, the statistically significant differences appeared only in a knee angle (167.2°+/-6.2° and 161.4°+/-6.7°, P<.05, crawl and butterfly, respectively) and in a knee angular velocity (582.1°/s+/-161.1°/s and 671°/s +/-133.4°/s, P<.05). Obtained results suggest that some differences in a start kinetics were present but had no effect an the flight phase and consecutive diving. Verf.-Referat