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The Impact of COVID-19 on the Preparation for the Tokyo Olympics: A Comprehensive Performance Assessment of Top Swimmers

Author

Listed:
  • Emese Csulak

    (Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 1122 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Árpád Petrov

    (Hungarian Coaches Association, 1146 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Tímea Kováts

    (Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 1122 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Márton Tokodi

    (Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 1122 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Bálint Lakatos

    (Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 1122 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Attila Kovács

    (Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 1122 Budapest, Hungary
    Department of Sports Medicine, Semmelweis University, 1122 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Levente Staub

    (Argus Cognitive, Inc., Lebanon, NH 03766-1441, USA)

  • Ferenc Imre Suhai

    (Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 1122 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Erzsébet Liliána Szabó

    (Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 1122 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Zsófia Dohy

    (Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 1122 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Hajnalka Vágó

    (Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 1122 Budapest, Hungary
    Department of Sports Medicine, Semmelweis University, 1122 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Dávid Becker

    (Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 1122 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Veronika Müller

    (Pulmonology Clinic, Semmelweis University, 1083 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Nóra Sydó

    (Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 1122 Budapest, Hungary
    Department of Sports Medicine, Semmelweis University, 1122 Budapest, Hungary
    Equal authorship.)

  • Béla Merkely

    (Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 1122 Budapest, Hungary
    Department of Sports Medicine, Semmelweis University, 1122 Budapest, Hungary
    Equal authorship.)

Abstract

Background: The Olympic preparation of athletes has been highly influenced by COVID and post-COVID syndrome. As the complex screening of athletes is essential for safe and successful sports, we aimed to repeat the 2019-year sports cardiology screening of the Olympic Swim Team before the Olympics and to compare the results of COVID and non-COVID athletes. Methods: Patient history, electrocardiogram, laboratory tests, body composition analysis, echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) were performed. We used time-ranking points to compare swimming performance. Results: From April 2019, we examined 46 elite swimmers (24 ± 4 years). Fourteen swimmers had COVID infection; all cases were mild. During CPET there was no difference in the performance of COVID (male: VO 2 max 55 ± 4 vs. 56.5 ± 5 mL/kg/min, p = 0.53; female: VO 2 max 54.6 ± 4 vs. 56 ± 5.5 mL/kg/min, p = 0.86) vs. non-COVID athletes (male VO 2 max 56.7 ± 5 vs. 55.5 ± 4.5 mL/kg/min, p = 0.50; female 49.6 ± 3 vs. 50.7 ± 2.6 mL/kg/min, p = 0.47) between 2019 and 2021. When comparing the time results of the National Championships, 54.8% of the athletes showed an improvement ( p = 0.75). Conclusions: COVID infection with short-term detraining did not affect the performance of well-trained swimmers. According to our results, the COVID pandemic did not impair the effectiveness of the preparation for the Tokyo Olympics.

Suggested Citation

  • Emese Csulak & Árpád Petrov & Tímea Kováts & Márton Tokodi & Bálint Lakatos & Attila Kovács & Levente Staub & Ferenc Imre Suhai & Erzsébet Liliána Szabó & Zsófia Dohy & Hajnalka Vágó & Dávid Becker & , 2021. "The Impact of COVID-19 on the Preparation for the Tokyo Olympics: A Comprehensive Performance Assessment of Top Swimmers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-12, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:18:p:9770-:d:637111
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kazuki Kaneda & Noriaki Maeda & Yuta Suzuki & Kazuki Fukui & Yukio Urabe, 2021. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Life Space Extent and Apathy: A Comparison of Competitive Japanese Swimmers with and without Disabilities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-10, May.
    2. Aleksandra Milovancev & Jovana Avakumovic & Nemanja Lakicevic & Valdemar Stajer & Darinka Korovljev & Nikola Todorovic & Antonino Bianco & Nebojsa Maksimovic & Sergej Ostojic & Patrik Drid, 2021. "Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Volleyball Athletes Following a COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-8, April.
    3. Monoem Haddad & Zied Abbes & Iñigo Mujika & Karim Chamari, 2021. "Impact of COVID-19 on Swimming Training: Practical Recommendations during Home Confinement/Isolation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-12, April.
    4. Daniel Mon-López & Alfonso de la Rubia Riaza & Mónica Hontoria Galán & Ignacio Refoyo Roman, 2020. "The Impact of Covid-19 and the Effect of Psychological Factors on Training Conditions of Handball Players," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-14, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gloria Martinez Perez & Matthew VanSumeren & Michael Brown & Tamara Hew-Butler, 2021. "Pandemic-Induced Reductions on Swim Training Volume and Performance in Collegiate Swimmers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Sabrina Demarie & Emanuele Chirico & Christel Galvani, 2022. "Prediction and Analysis of Tokyo Olympic Games Swimming Results: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Swimmers’ Performance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-17, February.

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