The study investigated relationships between backstroke sprint swimming performance and variables extracted from load-velocity profiles. Thirteen male swimmers performed 50 m backstroke and semi-tethered swimming with three progressive external loads. From 50 m backstroke, race time (T50m) swimming velocity (v50m), stroke length and frequency were obtained. From semi-tethered swimming, maximum load (L0) and velocity (v0), slope and L0 normalized to body mass (rL0) were computed. Large to very large significant relationships were found between v50m and all variables derived from the load-velocity profiling. Similar relationships were found between T50m and v0, L0 and slope, but not with rL0 (r = -0.530, p = 0.062). These findings indicate that load-velocity profiling is a practical method to predict and assess sprint backstroke performance and swimming velocity, and to assess propulsive force production and velocity capabilities related to backstroke sprint performance.
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