Purpose: The study examined the longitudinal interplay of anthropometric, metabolic, and neuromuscular development related to performance in adolescent national-level swimmers over 12 months. Methods: Seven male and 12 female swimmers (14.8 [1.3] y, FINA [International Swimming Federation] points 716 [51]) were tested before (T0) and after the preparation period (T1), at the season`s peak (T2), and before the next season (T3). Anthropometric (eg, fat percentage) and neuromuscular parameters (squat and bench-press load-velocity profile) were assessed on dry land. Metabolic (cost of swimming [C], maximal oxygen uptake [VO2peak], and peak blood lactate [bLapeak]) and performance (sprinting speed [vsprint] and lactate thresholds [LT1 and 2]) factors were determined using a 500-m submaximal, 200-m all-out, 20-second sprint, and incremental test (+0.03 m·s-1, 3 min), respectively, in front-crawl swimming. Results: vsprint (+0.6%) and LT1 and 2 (+1.9-2.4%) increased trivially and slightly, respectively, from T0 to T2 following small to moderate strength increases (=+10.2%) from T0 to T1 and VO2peak (+6.0%) from T1 to T2. Bench-press maximal strength and peak power correlated with vsprint from T0 to T2 (r = .54, P < .05) and LT2 at T1 (r = .47, P < .05). Changes in fat percentage and VO2peak (T2-T1 and T3-T2, r = -.67, P < .01) and C and LT2 (T2-T0, r = -.52, P = .047) were also correlated. Conclusions: Increases in strength and VO2peak from preparation to the competition period resulted in improved sprint and endurance performance. Across the season, upper-body strength was associated with vsprint and LT2, although their changes were unrelated.
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