Purpose: To analyze the evolution of the world ranking in swimming over the last 10 years, with particular attention to the effects of COVID-19 on the different levels of participating athletes. Methods: The top 200 world-ranked entries in all swimming events (50-m pool) were collected from 2013 to 2022. A mathematical model (Gaussian model) was proposed to evaluate the ranking progression for different performance levels (clusters) according to distance, stroke, and gender. The model was applied both with and without the COVID season data. Results: Overall results indicated a general progression in world rankings over the last 10 years, except for the COVID season and the post-Olympic year(s), with peak results in the 2021 postpandemic (Olympic) year. The gender gap in World Aquatics points scoring has shown an increasing gap in favor of males since 2017, reaching 1.5% in 2022. The top 200 positions of world rankings were grouped into 3 different clusters defined by the 23.3%, 66.5%, and 100% of ranked male swimmers (or 31.5%, 72.5%, and 100% for females) and with average World Aquatics scores of 910 (12), 858 (10) and 816 (11) points (907 [13], 847 [11], and 802 [12] for females). The Gaussian model showed a gap averaging ∼21 to ∼36 points between performance curves with or without COVID season data, with larger gaps for female rankings and cluster-3 swimmers. Conclusions: These results suggest that, given the lower relative performance of female swimmers in the different clusters of world rankings, female events may provide an opportunity to enter international-level swimming.

The heart rate variability (HRV), influenced by female sex hormone fluctuations, is an indicator of athletes’ adaptation. This case study explores HRV responses over 18 months across a natural menstrual cycle (MC) and during oral contraceptive (OC) use in two Olympic female swimmers. HRV measurements—including mean heart rate (HR); root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD); and frequency-domain indices—were collected at rest in supine (SU) and standing (ST) positions across two competitive seasons. Nocturnal HR and RMSSD were assessed using the Ōura^® ring. MC and OC phases were identified through specific tracking, and training load was controlled. In both athletes, resting HR was lower during bleeding phases, increasing from menstruation to the luteal phase (MC) and from withdrawal to active pill phases (OC). In the ST position, RMSSD was higher but decreased throughout the phases. Nocturnal measurements confirmed these trends. Overall, findings suggest a phase-related parasympathetic overactivity shift. This study provides novel insights into HRV responses across hormonal cycles in elite female athletes, which present unique characteristics. Such monitoring tools may support a data-informed approach to guide and periodize training more effectively.

This study examined whether performance changes following a taper incorporating sleep-enhancing strategies differed according to the pre-taper fatigue level in elite swimmers. Physiological, psychological, and biomechanical parameters were assessed in twenty-seven elite swimmers at two time points to estimate pre-taper fatigue: T0 and T1 (10 and 3 weeks before the main competition, respectively). Race performance was officially recorded at T1 and during the main competition. Sleep-enhancing strategies included two sleep education sessions, five consecutive evenings of cryostimulation, and the use of a mattress topper with high thermal conductivity. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Thirteen swimmers (17 ± 2 y) were classified as acutely fatigued (AF) and fourteen (17 ± 1 y) as functionally overreached (F-OR). From T1 to competition, performance changes were not different between groups (AF: +1.2 ± 1.6% vs. F-OR: +0.4 ± 2.3%). A total of 82% of swimmers in the AF group and 67% in the F-OR group achieved a performance improvement greater than 0.5% (p > 0.05). Following a tapering period incorporating sleep-enhancing interventions, no significant differences were observed between AF and F-OR swimmers in the magnitude of performance change or in the proportion of swimmers exhibiting a performance improvement greater than 0.5%.