Comparação Do Perfil Hidrodinâmico Entre Triatletas E Nadadores Competitivos

Abstract

This dissertation aimed to examine the biomechanical factors influencing swimming performance in triathletes by combining a systematic review of literature with an experimental study. The review revealed a predominance of investigations focused on kinematic variables, particularly in contexts involving wetsuit use, while kinetic and hydrodynamic aspects remain underexplored. To address these gaps, an experimental study was conducted comparing competitive swimmers and triathletes across biomechanical parameters of a kinetic nature. Swimmers demonstrated superior technical efficiency, as evidenced by greater stroke length and stroke index, higher swimming velocity, and more effective force application. In contrast, triathletes showed higher levels of passive drag and lower power to overcome drag, indicating specific technical limitations but also a clear potential for improvement. Correlation analyses revealed that, among triathletes, performance over short and middle distances was strongly influenced by hydrodynamic variables, suggesting that well-targeted interventions can lead to substantial gains even with a reduced volume of swim training. In this regard, the study reinforces the role of biomechanics as a strategic axis in the technical preparation of triathletes and offers concrete, evidence-based pathways for performance optimization always considering the swimmers' values as a reference.