Problem Statement: Must triathlon field performance tests reflect triathlon specificity? Approach: Seven female triathletes performed a standard swimming test (standalone 800 m free style) and a modified swimming test (i.e., 800 m free style 1 minute after 200 m freestyle) a week later. Purpose: To compare specific and non-specific field performance tests of swimming in triathlon. Results: Although the times achieved in both tests for 800 m swimming were significantly different, they were also very strongly correlated. Very strong correlation was also found between times for 200 m free style performed as a part of the modified test and personal best times for 200 m free style. Conclusions: Although the modified swimming test has been suggested to simulate specificity of triathlon (traditional rush to the first buoy) it provides equivalent information as the standard standalone test.
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