Olympic coaching excellence: A quantitative study of Olympic swimmers' perceptions of their coaches.

Although coaching is a co-created process, researchers investigating the psychological aspects of Olympic coaching have tended to overlook the perceptions of athletes and whether these distinguish between performance-related outcomes. The objective of this research was to examine whether athletes' perceptions of their coaches discriminate between world-leading (i.e., Olympic gold medal winning) and world-class (i.e., Olympic non-gold medal winning) coaches. Observer-reported psychometric questionnaires were completed by 38 Olympic swimmers who had collectively won 59 Olympic medals, of which 31 were gold. The questionnaires assessed perceptions of 12 variables within the Big Five personality traits, the dark triad, and emotional intelligence, and the data was analyzed using three one-way multivariate analysis of variance and follow-up univariate F-tests. The results showed that world-leading coaches were perceived to be significantly higher on conscientiousness, openness to experience, perception of emotion, and management of others emotion, and lower on narcissism, than world-class coaches. This suggests that athletes' perceptions of their coaches may discriminate between world-leading and world-class coaches. The implications for coaches' psychological development are discussed and compared with previously reported Olympic coaches' perceptions of themselves.

Comparing the Pathway to Success in European Countries Competing in the Swimming World Championships.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the performance progression model of the European countries that participated in the World Championships (WCs) from 2006 to 2017. Data from all championships were compared between the top five (1-5) and the next five (6-10) countries on the medal table. The study also identifies the ages of peak performance in senior swimmers, the annual ratio of progression and the effect of junior performance on senior success by these groups of countries. We hypothesized that: (1) countries with swimmers achieving better performances at the Junior WCs would also be higher in the medal ranking at the Senior WCs and (2) a higher annual performance progression in their swimmers increases the chances of countries being ranked in the top 5 at the Senior World Championships. Methods: Participant's data from all Junior and Senior WCs between 2006 and 2017 were obtained from FINA. The final, filtered database included 629 swimmers after removing those participating only in the Junior WCs and selecting swimmers from the top 10 countries. One-way ANOVA, F test, and decision tree methods were used to examine differences between the top (1-5) and the next best (6-10) countries on the medal table for first participation age, annual progress, and best-time in junior and senior championships. Results: There was no difference (p = 0.492 and p = 0.97) between 1-5 and 6-10 ranked countries for best senior time and annual progression, respectively. Countries ranked in the top 5 at the Senior WCs had swimmers with faster times at the Junior WCs (p > 0.001). Decision tree analysis found that best-time at the Junior WC had the greatest explanatory capacity (94%). Conclusion: European countries with swimmers who perform best at the Junior WCs are also likely to be in the top 5 countries that win medals at the Senior WCs.

Analysis of World Championship Swimmers Using a Performance Progression Model.

PURPOSE: The primary aim was to create a performance progression model of elite competitors in the World Swimming Championships from 2006 to 2017 for all strokes and distances. Secondly, to identify the influence of annual ratios of progression, ages of peak performance and junior status on success in senior competitions. METHODS: Data regarding the participants of senior and junior World Championships (WCs) between 2006 and 2017 were obtained from FINA. The final filtered database, after removing those swimmers who just participated in junior WCs, included 4076. Statistical models were used to examine differences between the top senior swimmers (the top 30% best performances; T30) and lower level swimmers (the bottom 70% performances; L70) for minimum age (MA), progress (P) and best junior time (BJ). In order to identify the variables that contribute to reach the T30 group, a logistic regression (LR), stepwise LR and decision tree were applied. To analyze the effect of each variable separately, a simple LR (gross odds ratio) was performed. Ratio probabilities (OR) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for each variable. RESULTS: Swimmer's BJ and P were higher in the T30 group (p < 0.000). The decision tree showed the greatest explanatory capacity for BJ, followed by P. The MA had a very low explanatory capacity and was not significant in the LR. CONCLUSION: Swimmers with exceptional junior performance times, or have a high rate of progress are more likely to be successful at the senior WCs.

Effects of active and passive recovery on performance during repeated-sprint swimming.

The effect of active and passive recovery on repeated-sprint swimming bouts was studied in eight elite swimmers. Participants performed three trials of two sets of front crawl swims with 5 min rest between sets. Set A consisted of four 30-s bouts of high-intensity tethered swimming separated by 30 s passive rest, whereas Set B consisted of four 50-yard maximal-sprint swimming repetitions at intervals of 2 min. Recovery was active only between sets (AP trial), between sets and repetitions of Set B (AA trial) or passive throughout (PP trial). Performance during and metabolic responses after Set A were similar between trials. Blood lactate concentration after Set B was higher and blood pH was lower in the PP (18.29 +/- 1.31 mmol x l(-1) and 7.12 +/- 0.11 respectively) and AP (17.56 +/- 1.22 mmol x l(-1) and 7.14 +/- 0.11 respectively) trials compared with the AA (14.13 +/- 1.56 mmol x l(-1) and 7.23 +/- 0.10 respectively) trial (P < 0.01). Performance time during Set B was not different between trials (P > 0.05), but the decline in performance during Set B of the AP trial was less marked than in the AA or PP trials (main effect of sprints, P < 0.05). Results suggest that active recovery (60% of the 100-m pace) could be beneficial between training sets, and may compromise swimming performance between repetitions when recovery durations are short (< 2 min).

Effect of creatine supplementation on training for competition in elite swimmers.

PURPOSE: The study was conducted to examine the effects of oral creatine supplementation on training for competition in 20 elite swimmers. METHODS: Subjects performed a maximal sprint test (8 x 50 yd (45.72 m), T1) before loading with creatine (Cr, 20 g.d Cr monohydrate for 5 d), 1 wk later (T2), and following a 22- to 27-wk period of training and competition (T3). Following T2, subjects supplemented with either Cr (3 g + glucose 7 g.d) or placebo (glucose 10 g.d; double blind) for the remainder of the 22- to 27-wk season and then both groups supplemented once more with 20 g.d Cr monohydrate for 5 d before their major competition. Venous and capillary blood samples were obtained pre- and posttest during the repeated sprint tests to determine blood metabolites and hormones. Competition times were recorded, and changes in subjects' best times were used to compare the effect of training and supplementation on competitive performance. RESULTS: Mean competition times in the Cr and control groups changed by+1.90 +/-1.91 and+0.72+/-1.64% for short course (SC, 25-m pool) and by+0.14+/-1.14 and -0.59+/-0.82% long course (LC, 50-m pool), respectively (Cr vs control, NS). No differences between groups were found in blood metabolites, although the human growth hormone (hGH) response to repeated sprints was blunted following Cr loading (T1, 30.42+/-14.60 and 28.95+/-18.27 microg.L; T2, 21.48+/-13.96 and 14.24+/-7.32 microg.L for Cr and control groups, respectively P<0.05). CONCLUSION: No statistically significant differences in performance were observed between groups after long-term maintenance during training, although small differences were observed that might be meaningful for elite performers.