Applying Load–Velocity Profiling to Guide In-Water Resistance Training in an Olympic-Level Swimmer: A Case Study

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Abstract
Elite 50 m freestyle performance demands targeted interventions for events that may be decided by hundredths of a second. This case study assesses the effectiveness of an individualised in-water resistance training intervention informed by load–velocity (LV) profiling in both profiling metrics and competitive performance, while documenting the training characteristics of an elite 50 m freestyle swimmer (male, 24.8 years) over the 18 months culminating in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. A coach-led, six-week resisted-swim intervention involved three sessions per week with prescribed velocity-decrement zones targeting technical development, speed-strength, and power while preserving the swimmer’s race stroke rate. Post-intervention LV outputs showed likely improvements in maximal swim speed, of +3.4% and theoretical maximal load, of +13.6%, and competition time improved by 1.3% with a 3.5% improvement in free swimming time (15–45 m). Although limited to a single-athlete design, the observed improvements suggest that individualised, LV-informed resisted swimming using accessible equipment may contribute to enhancements in sprint swimming performance.
Funding Information
  • way of a Postgraduate Studentship for R.K. (Ryan Keating) from the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland

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