Activities per year
Abstract
Objectives - To provide a scientific rationale for lower water temperature and wetsuit rules for elite and sub-elite triathletes.
Methods - 11 lean, competitive triathletes completed a 20-minute flume swim, technical transition including bike control and psychomotor testing, and a cycle across five different wetsuit and water temperature conditions: with wetsuit, 10 °C, 12 °C and 14 °C; without wetsuit (skins), 14 °C and 16 °C. Deep body (rectal) temperature (Tre), psychomotor performance and the ability to complete a technical bike course after the swim were measured, as well as swimming and cycling performance.
Results - In skins conditions, only 4 out of 11 athletes could complete the condition in 14 °C water, with two becoming hypothermic (Tre ˂ 35 °C) after a 20-minute swim. All 11 athletes completed the condition in 16 °C. Tre fell further following 14 °C (mean 1.12 °C) than 16 °C (mean 0.59 °C) skins swim (p = 0.01). In wetsuit conditions, cold shock prevented most athletes (4 out of 7) completing the swim in 10 °C. In 12 °C and 14 °C almost all athletes completed the condition (17 out of 18). There was no difference in temperature or performance variables between conditions following wetsuit swims at 12 °C and 14 °C.
Conclusion - The minimum recommended water temperature for racing is 12 °C in wetsuits and 16 °C without wetsuits. ITU rules for racing were changed accordingly (January 2017).
Methods - 11 lean, competitive triathletes completed a 20-minute flume swim, technical transition including bike control and psychomotor testing, and a cycle across five different wetsuit and water temperature conditions: with wetsuit, 10 °C, 12 °C and 14 °C; without wetsuit (skins), 14 °C and 16 °C. Deep body (rectal) temperature (Tre), psychomotor performance and the ability to complete a technical bike course after the swim were measured, as well as swimming and cycling performance.
Results - In skins conditions, only 4 out of 11 athletes could complete the condition in 14 °C water, with two becoming hypothermic (Tre ˂ 35 °C) after a 20-minute swim. All 11 athletes completed the condition in 16 °C. Tre fell further following 14 °C (mean 1.12 °C) than 16 °C (mean 0.59 °C) skins swim (p = 0.01). In wetsuit conditions, cold shock prevented most athletes (4 out of 7) completing the swim in 10 °C. In 12 °C and 14 °C almost all athletes completed the condition (17 out of 18). There was no difference in temperature or performance variables between conditions following wetsuit swims at 12 °C and 14 °C.
Conclusion - The minimum recommended water temperature for racing is 12 °C in wetsuits and 16 °C without wetsuits. ITU rules for racing were changed accordingly (January 2017).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 702-708 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | British Journal of Sports Medicine |
| Volume | 52 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| Early online date | 2 May 2018 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 17 May 2018 |
Keywords
- open water swimming
- cold water
- wetsiuits
- non-wesuit swimming
- cycling
- triathlon
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Data availability statement for 'Scientific rationale for changing lower water temperature limits for triathlon racing to 12 °C with wetsuits and 16 °C without'.
Saycell, J. (Creator), Lomax, M. (Creator), Massey, H. (Creator) & Tipton, M. (Creator), BMJ, 2 May 2018
DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2017-098914, http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2018/05/02/bjsports-2017-098914
Dataset
Activities
- 1 Invited talk
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Invited internet talk to Penn state medical students
Heather Massey (Speaker)
Apr 2020Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk