Taper represents a distinct period within an athlete's preparatory process preceding major competitive events. The effects of this phase are reflected through intentional and timely variability in the volume and intensity of training load attributes (functional, mechanical, motor, psycho-social). The essence of planning, implementing, and defining taper as a phenomenon of training-competition preparation arises from its unstable and dynamic nature, as well as from the challenges of its practical execution, which involve, among others: (a) recognition of individual residual effects of previously accumulated training and competitive load; (b) athletespecific responses to mechanical, motor, and functional variations in training and competition stress; (c) reduction of mechanical and neuro-vegetative fatigue parameters; (d) stimulation of supercompensation processes across performance-relevant abilities and skills. In the context of competitive swimming, taper is one of the central components of training process finalization, ultimately shaping performance outcomes into concrete and competitive race results. Therefore, taper management requires systematic and precise control over residual, adaptable, and current determinants of efficient and economical swimming, primarily those within the kinetic, kinematic, physiological, and psychological domains, through which training stimuli are optimized and transferred into competitive ability and skill. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is twofold: to analyse the factual foundations of the taper phenomenon and generalize them into conceptual knowledge frameworks, and to articulate their deductive value and usefulness for coaching practice and training programme design. Equally important is the intention to encourage further research towards more purposeful and methodologically refined interpretation of the tapering period.

Immersion and swimming in cold water are an integral part of the human evolution, but also an element and legacy of cultural and religious heritage. It is an integral part of life practice that is becoming more and more popular due to the recognition of the benefits it provides, both in the method of training sports on land, in water and on water, as well as in terms of a person's overall health, age and lifespan. By identifying and analyzing 128 articles from four scientific databases, several areas of knowledge related to the effects of stress, cold water and swimming, i.e. the responses of organic systems and their co-adaptations, were determined. It was determined that empirical facts, theoretical generalizations, as well as practice models were established around a large number of facts of an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary nature of knowledge (classification). In the next step, they were systematized into cognitive frameworks - taxa, as axioms rich in facts of empirical and theoretical experience. Taxa are named on the basis of the cognitive being that "dozes" in them, and that: a) respiration and circulation; b) inflammatory course; c) immune response; g) stress and anxiety; d) aging; f) training and competitive abilities; e) prophylaxis; h) rehabilitation; z) methodological challenges; i) religious customs; j) life habits. By identifying, categorizing and systematizing inter and multidisciplinary facts, a cognitive construct was created for further study and scientific affirmations, encouraging sports practice, recovery, directing life habits, as well as theories related to healthy aging and lifespan. No less important are the facts of the practice of cold water immersion and swimming for life habits, and as part of religious customs.

Achieving success at the highest level in swimming requires exceptional physical abilities and technical skills. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) poses an additional challenge to maintaining optimal glycemic control. Most information on the nutritional aspects of competitive swimming is available in the literature, but specific considerations for swimmers with T1D are scarce. To excel, swimmers’ nutrition and fueling strategies must align with the varied training and competition requirements, which can elicit different glycemic responses. Continuous glucose monitoring can help develop optimal fueling strategies. Dryland and altitude training will require different approaches than regular pool sessions. Competition-related stress can make glycemia unpredictable, and practiced scenarios must be established. The importance of early recognition of hypoglycemia with planned and practiced treatment scenarios should be established. There is limited evidence on the safety of using ergogenic aids other than caffeine in swimmers with T1D. Given the higher incidence of disordered eating behaviors and eating disorders among swimmers and other individuals with T1D, coaches and everyone involved in the swimmers’ environment should be educated on how to communicate potential body composition issues and, if necessary, manage body composition safely. Swimmers and their team members should be aware of the specific considerations for T1D in swimming for safe sports participation, as presented in this review.