A characterisation of elite open water swimmers' core temperature responses and preparation practices in European Aquatics competitions

IF 4.5 2区医学 Q1 SPORT SCIENCES

Journal of science and medicine in sport Pub Date : 2026-09-01 Epub Date: 2026-03-27 DOI:10.1016/j.jsams.2026.03.016

Kate Markey, Bryna C.R. Chrismas, Chris Esh, Natalia Galan-Lopez, William M. Adams, Naama Constantini, Margo L. Mountjoy, Lee Taylor

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives

Open water swimming competition occurs within a water temperature (Tw) range (World Aquatics Tw: 16–31 °C) where heat- (hyperthermia) and cold-related (hypothermia) medical events and race-dropouts regularly occur. These can be attributed to the thermodynamic properties of water and human thermoregulatory (Treg) maladaptations for submersion [modest deviations (± 0.5–2 °C) in core temperature (Tc) can impair performance and health]. Additionally, little real-world knowledge regarding elite open water swimmer preparation [e.g., heat/cold acclimation/acclimatisation] for extreme environments is available. Thus, elite swimmers' Tc and preparation practices were characterised during open water swimming competition.

Design

(i) Characterise Tc responses; and (ii) questionnaire preparation practices of elite swimmers within cold and warm Tw European Aquatics open water swimming competitions.

Methods

Tc data were characterised (ingestible-telemetry) for 50 (20 female) elite swimmers during the 2023–25 European Aquatics Open Water Swimming Cup (Leg 4 — COLD₁, Leg 1 — COLD₂, Leg 5 — COLD₃, Leg 1 — COLD₄) and the 2023 Junior European Aquatics Open Water Swimming Championships (WARM). A pre- and post-race questionnaire was disseminated to survey training/preparation practices and symptomology in-race.

Results

Tc responses were highly variable [maximum ± Tc °C change: COLD₁ (+ 1.2 °C; − 2.0 °C), COLD₂ (+ 1.2 °C; − 1.6 °C), COLD₃ (+ 1.7 °C; − 1.3 °C), COLD₄ (+ 2.2 °C; − 4.2 °C), WARM (+ 1.8 °C; − 1.7 °C)]. Mild and/or hypo/hyper-thermia co-presented within the same race. Tc in-race was not associated with race time, nor ranking (P ≥ .080). Heat/cold acclimation/acclimatisation adoption was not associated with lower likelihood of hypo-/hyper-thermia (P ≥ .184), nor cold/heat-related symptomology in-race (P ≥ .837).

Conclusions

The observed variability in Tc responses, alongside co-presentation of mild and/or hyper-/hypo-thermia in-race surfaces the challenges to protect open water swimmers' health and performance during competition. Whilst heat/cold acclimation/acclimatisation and body temperature manipulation (e.g., cooling/heating) interventions may be helpful, there is a paucity of open water swimming specific data to evidence-inform practice.

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精英开放水域游泳者的核心温度反应和准备实践的特征在欧洲游泳比赛。

目的：公开水域游泳比赛在水温（Tw）范围内进行（世界游泳Tw: 16-31 °C），其中经常发生热（热疗）和冷相关（低体温）医疗事件和比赛退赛。这可归因于水的热力学性质和人类对淹没的温度调节（Treg）不适应[核心温度（Tc）的适度偏差（±0.5-2 °C）会损害性能和健康]。此外，关于精英开放水域游泳运动员准备（例如，极端环境的热/冷适应/适应）的实际知识很少。因此，在公开水域游泳比赛中，优秀游泳运动员的训练和准备训练是有特点的。设计：(i)表征Tc响应；(2)优秀游泳运动员在冷暖两场欧洲水上运动公开水域游泳比赛中的问卷编制实践。方法：对2023-25年欧洲游泳公开水域游泳杯（第4段- COLD1、第1段- COLD2、第5段- COLD3、第1段- COLD4）和2023年欧洲青少年游泳公开水域游泳锦标赛（WARM）期间50名（20名女性）优秀游泳运动员的Tc数据进行了采集和遥测。一份赛前和赛后问卷被分发，以调查训练/准备实践和比赛中的症状。结果:Tc反应高度变量(最大 ± Tc°C变化:COLD1(+ 1.2 °C; -2.0°C), COLD2(+ 1.2 °C; -1.6°C), COLD3(+ 1.7 °C; -1.3°C), COLD4(+ 2.2 °C; -4.2°C),温暖(+ 1.8 °C; -1.7°C)]。轻度和/或低温/高温在同一种族中共同出现。比赛中Tc与比赛时间和排名无关（P ≥ .080）。采用热/冷适应/适应与低/高体温的可能性不相关（P ≥ ）。184)，种族内与冷/热相关的症状也没有（P ≥ .837）。结论：观察到的Tc反应的可变性，以及在比赛中同时出现的轻度和/或高/低体温，表明了保护开放水域游泳运动员在比赛期间的健康和表现的挑战。虽然热/冷适应/适应和体温操纵（例如，冷却/加热）干预措施可能会有所帮助，但缺乏公开水域游泳的具体数据，以证据为依据。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of science and medicine in sport 医学-运动科学

CiteScore

7.40

自引率

10.00%

发文量

198

审稿时长

48 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport is the official journal of Sports Medicine Australia (SMA) and is an an international refereed research publication covering all aspects of sport science and medicine. The Journal considers for publication Original research and Review papers in the sub-disciplines relating generally to the broad sports medicine and sports science fields: sports medicine, sports injury (including injury epidemiology and injury prevention), physiotherapy, podiatry, physical activity and health, sports science, biomechanics, exercise physiology, motor control and learning, sport and exercise psychology, sports nutrition, public health (as relevant to sport and exercise), and rehabilitation and injury management. Manuscripts with an interdisciplinary perspective with specific applications to sport and exercise and its interaction with health will also be considered.