The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of cold water immersion (CWI) on sprint swimming performance in simulated competition conditions. Ten well-trained swimmers (5 males, 5 females; 19.0 ± 3.9 years) performed two 100-m swimming sprints (S1 and S2) interspersed with a 30-min passive recovery period, during which athletes were randomly assigned to 5 min of CWI (14°C) or an out-of-water control condition (CON 28°C). During tests, sprint times, heart rate (HR), pre- and post-race parasympathetic activity via HR variability (natural logarithm of the square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent normal R-R intervals; Ln rMSSD) and blood lactate accumulation ([La]ac) and clearance ([La]cle) were recorded. Rates of perceived recovery (RPR) and exertion (RPE) were evaluated before and after each sprint. CWI was associated with a `likely` decrease in swimming performance [1.8% (90% CI 0.2, 3.5)], as well as `likely` lower peak HR [-1.9% (-3.6, -0.2)]. CWI was also associated with a `likely` smaller decrease in Ln rMSSD after the first sprint [-16.7% (-30.9, -4.1)]. RPR was `likely` better [+27.2% (-3.7, 68.0)] following CWI. `unclear` effects were observed for [La]ac [+24.7% (-13.4, 79.5)], [La]cle [-7.6% (-24.2, 12.7)] or RPE [+2.0% (-12.3, 18.5)]. Following CWI, changes in sprint times were `largely` correlated with changes in peak HR (r = 0.80). Despite a subjective perception of improved recovery following CWI, this recovery intervention resulted in slower swimming times in well-trained athletes swimming in simulated competition conditions.
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