Investigation of the Relationship between Maximal Strength and Swimming Performance in Adolescent Swimmers

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between maximal strength and swimming performance in adolescent swimmers. 7 female and 8 male swimmers between the ages of 13-16 participated in the study voluntarily. 1 repetition maximal strength test (1RM) in butterfly, lat pull down, leg press and maximum push up test with self-body weights were applied to determine the maximal strength. Swimmers were asked to swim 50 m and 100 m freestyle to evaluate their swimming performances. Swimming performance data were measured in the form of swimming performances separately for 50 m and 100 m, 50 m freestyle kicking time (KT), stroke count (SC), stroke time (ST), distance per stroke (DPS), stroke length (SL), stroke rate (SR), heart rate (HR). Spearman correlation test was applied in order to determine the relationship between maximal strength and swimming performance (p<0.05). Significant and positive relationship was determined between butterfly & lat pull down maximal strength and HR of the female swimmers after the 100 m freestyle swimming (100 m HR & butterfly r= 0.818, p= 0.015; 100 m HR & lat pull down r= 0.754, p= 0.038); and between 100 m swimming time and maximal push-ups of the male swimmers (r= -0.707, p= 0.037). However a significant negative relationship was found between 1RM lat pull down and 50 m SC (r= -.710, p= .037), and a significant positive relationship was found between 1RM lat pull down and 50 m SL (r= .710, p= .037). No significant relationship was found between any other swimming performance and maximal strength in male and female swimmers. As a result, it is possible to suggest that lat pull down is a determining element for swimming performance. However, in dryland strength workouts (ground workout), it may be suggested that action plans may be transferred into the water.