ºìÐÓÊÓƵ

Topic

Using Vertical Force-Velocity Profiling to Predict Swim Start Performance

School of Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education

Date & location

• Wednesday, April 16, 2025

• 1:00 P.M.

• Virtual Defence

Reviewers

Supervisory Committee

• Dr. Marc Klimstra, School of Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education, University of Victoria (Supervisor)

• Dr. Ming-Chang Tsai, School of Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education, UVic (Member) 

External Examiner

• Dr. Tom Vandenbogaerde, Swimming Canada 

Chair of Oral Examination

• Dr. Kim Venn, Department of Physics and Astronomy, UVic

   

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between vertical force-velocity profiles (FVP) and swimming start performance. Twenty-four varsity-level swimmers (14 females and 10 males) with a mean age of 19.84 ± 1.50 years and body mass of 72.34 ± 7.39 kg were sampled from a varsity swimming program. Participants completed a FVP consisting of a loaded squat jumps on force plates across four loads (female: 0.5 kg, 15 kg, 30 kg, 45 kg; male: 0.5 kg, 20 kg, 40 kg, 60 kg) and two maximal swimming starts during the same training week. Swim start performance was quantified using dive distance and time to 10 m. Backwards multiple linear regression identified theoretical maximal force (F0) as a significant predictor of dive distance (β = 0.0212, R2 adjusted = 0.61, p

Key Words: Strength and conditioning, resistance training, power