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The main questions
and needs that have risen about different swimsuits:1. Do bodysuits enchange performance and are the manufacturers claims justifiable?
2. To compare and assess bodysuits from different manufacturers.
3. To consider whitch suits might be most appropriate for which events.
In order to get the best results in determining this, and based on my expirience in testing costumes, I propose to:
compare all manufacturers
(Adidas, Speedo, Arena)
compare all suite styles
of all the manufacturersThere are three main types of costumes for boys:
Full bodysuits Bodysuits
with arms free bodysuits
with arms and breast freeThere are three main types of costumes for girls:
Full bodysuits Bodysuits
with arms free Bodysuits
with arms and lower legs free
compare all (suite) styles
and (suite) manufacturers performance in all swimming styles (fly, breast,
back, free)
compare all this to the old
conventional suiteFor this we will have to:
Find 3 high level swimmers of one style to swim 3 x 75m (25m from start - maximum speed with starting signal + 30sec rest + 50m =25+25 in out for turn also maximum speed) in a 50m pool. There will be an interval of 10 minutes between each 75m. Each next swimmer must start in 2 minutes. Six minutes after the third swimmer has finished, again the first swimmer will start the second round and so three rounds with same costumes (20 minutes in total).
The next series with another, different costume, and when all three rounds are completed with all 10 costumes (3 adidas, 3speedo, 3 arena and 1 old), everything again in another style, by high level swimmers of the style.
For 4 different swimming styles using 3 different manufacturer costumes and 3 different style suits of every manufacturer, plus one old suite, means 720 min for videorecording and 360 tests. Then going through the same scenario for girls, the absolut maximum number of tests is 720.
These tests can be divided and spread out in time according to your needs. For example boys doing the tests in 2 styles per day (180 tests, approximately 6 hours).
In order to carry out the tests I require a swimming pool for approximately 4 hours on Saturday for boys and the same on Sunday for girls.
This test has no fatigue component for different series or conditions. High level swimmers are able to swim exactly same times in series (full recovery after 6 minutes rest ) and we ask them to swim max speed during all tests in that day (full anaerobic work).
They must be well motivated. This is clear that the high level swimmers movement technique skills are permanent and automatic and they will demonstrate very similar parameters of technique 3 times in same conditions. We propose that differences may take place thanks to using different costumes.
During the test I measure and analyse:
START (from signal to 15m ) - start time and technique parameters (entry, gliding speed)
SWIMMING (from 15m after start before turn and after turn) - 3 times swimming speed and technique parameters
TURN (from 5m before + 10m after) - turn time and technique parameters
For analyses I will use my system of analyses. I will do measuring, digitizing from video swimming , starting, turning technique parameters. I have databank collected from world best swimmers different countries using that system during last Olympic cycle. I will compare parameters from that test to my model parameters constructed with data of testing best swimmers. Individual differences of each parameter to model will be indicated by %. I will edit all videos to one tape, present all original data and I will make official report.
Your considerations will be solved after all testing results by comparison. Also each swimmer will get personal advice and analysis using different costumes.
If there are more or different variants of bodysuits for individual testing, the swimmers can be filmed and tested individually in addition.
EXAMPLE
COMPARISONS:
Comparison of selected best starts using 2 different costumes
| Parameters | Model | REGULAR | SPECIAL | DIFF | ||
| C100% | Swimmer | %a | Swimmer | %b | %b-%a | |
| Reaction phase time | 0.50 | 0.7 | 50 | 0.68 | 55 | 5 |
| Pushing phase time | 0.12 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.1 | 100 | 0 |
| Head speed forward | 5.50 | 5.27 | 91 | 5.36 | 95 | 3 |
| Flight phase speed | 6.00 | 4.7 | 63 | 4.76 | 65 | 2 |
| Length of jump | 3.50 | 3.05 | 68 | 3.11 | 72 | 4 |
| Entry phase speed | 5.50 | 4.86 | 54 | 5.25 | 82 | 28 |
| Glide speed after entry | 4.00 | 2.96 | 48 | 3.13 | 57 | 9 |
| Kicking phase speed | 2.70 | 2.06 | 47 | 2.19 | 58 | 11 |
| Kicking phase time | 3.50 | 1.88 | 65 | 1.54 | 57 | -7 |
| First pullout speed | 2.30 | 1.89 | 49 | 1.99 | 61 | 13 |
| Second pullout speed | 2.30 | 1.89 | 49 | 2.01 | 64 | 15 |
| Speed after start | 2.30 | 2.01 | 64 | 1.94 | 55 | -9 |
| FREE Start 15m time | 6.22 | 6.12 | ||||
| Average % | 62 | 68 | 6 |
Conclusion: Comparison of 2 best starts indicate that quality of technique of the start using the “Special” costume was higher – 68% (by 6% and 9 parameters out of 12).
Conclusion
This a preliminary proposal which concludes the ideal possibility of testing to get maximum results. This can be modified according to your needs.
Please contact me for financial details.
Prof. Rein Haljand
Phone: +372 50 10204
FAX: +372 6398 610
E-mail: rein@swim.ee
