Relationship between strength, stroke efficiency and front crawl swimming performance

Swimming is a highly specified sport in which it is essential to achieve the highest swimming speed. Knowing that drag increases with speed, in short races swimmers have to apply a greater force to overcome water resistance. Indeed, the relationship between strength and speed has already been found in the fastest races even in young swimmers. Nevertheless, the exerted force should also be efficient, evidencing a correct technique. However, as young swimmers are still in the learning process, the relationship between technique, force production capacity and performance may not be as evident. This study aims to analyze the association between strength, efficiency and swimming speed (performance) in young swimmers. Only positive and strong correlations between performance (speed) and maximal force (Fmax) and mean force (Fmean) (0.58 and 0.63, respectively, p < 0.01) were found. Efficiency showed no correlations neither with performance nor with Fmax or Fmean.