The purpose of this investigation was to analyze of race and stroke characteristics for the swimmer who had participated in 50-m freestyle event at the 1996 and 1997 All Japan swimming championship. The performance of 292 male and female swimmers in the event were analyzed to determine race velocity (RV), stroke phase velocity (SV), start phase velocity (VSta), finish phase velocity (VFT), stroke length (SL), and stroke rate (SR), and to compare within each year and between 1996 and 1997, to assess the relationships between these parameters.
The results suggest the following;
1) In the comparison of each parameter during 1996 and 1997, it was necessary to improve the swimming velocity of the stroke phase for the performance improvement.
2) Successful swimmers were characterized by higher velocity of the start phase, finish phase, and stroke phase the comparison of each parameter by the difference of the performance level.
3) In the start phase, it was regarded that the player who had participated in 1997 term can have been done measures by a regulated change in the start.
4) There was no correlation about the between swimming velocity and SL and SR. However, SL and SR showed a high, negative correlation in this study.
5) It was also necessary to examine between swimming performance and anthropometric characteristic.
