Variability of competition results during one season in swimming

Aims The purpose of this study was to investigate how performance of elite swimmers develop during one season from competition to competition. A small variability of performance has been suggested to correlate with superior competition results, which is why understanding the connection between performance and its variability is interesting for sports science researchers, coaches, and athletes alike. Methods We analysed all competitions of ten European Olympic medallists and nine German Olympic swimmers in an eight-month competition period culminating in the Rio Olympics in 2016. We analysed the variability in performance using the coefficient of variation (CV). Results We estimated CVs for German (0.68%) and European (0.52%) athletes, as well as for certain subgroups (sprinters [0.60%], middle distance athletes [0.45%], males [0.57%], females [0.40%]). The variability decreased from the first section of the measurement to its end period by 71%. Conclusion We conclude that a small performance variability is an important indicator for peaking performance at the season’s major event.