ABSTRACT
The starting time is one of the race components in swimming competition. Its importance is relatively greater during the shorter race distances (50 and 100m). The time that a swimmer spends starting is equal to the time from the starting signal being given until the feet leave the starting block (the block time), until fIrst contact is made with the water (the flight time), plus the time from fIrst contact with the water until the swimmer begins kicking and/or stroking (the glide time) (Hay, 1986). Starting times were recorded during international swimming competitions using fixed distances. The results showed the time spent from the starting signal until the head crossed the 10 or 15m line as was reported by Arellano et al. (1994) or more recently by Mason et al. (1998). The new F.I.N.A. rules put limits to the underwater starting distance (15m) and this length is now universally used to measure the total starting time. Some papers were published reporting data of the duration of the phases, centre of gravity trajectory, horizontal and vertical velocity of the body segments, force applied on the starting block and underwater propulsive actions (Zatsiorsky et al., 1979; Lewis, 1980; Guimaraes and Hay, 1985; Pearson et al., 1998). Our study aim was to develop a system to improve the swimmer's starting technique integrating force and video data from all the starting phases.
