Pacing and turn times profiles during the 1500/800m freestyle competition

Performance in swimming competition depends on a complex interaction of many factors. For young swimmers, growing as an athlete involves this understanding and the importance of synergies between training and competition. Pacing strategies and chronometric variables, such as turning time, can determine a competition outcome. Therefore, looking for the finest technique and the optimal pacing strategy for the 1500/800m races are important goals to achieve for young swimmers. The aim of this study was to analyze and characterize turns time and splits time each 50m, during the 1500/800m freestyle (male/female young swimmers) during an official competition (25m pool). Both split and turning times of the 1500m and the 800m were similar, showing boys and girls with good regularity during long races. Both male and female swimmers showed low coefficient of variation in the pacing times and in the turning times.