The metabolic and drag responses, together with the distance between the dr
aftee and the leader, were studied in six female triathletes swimming behin
d a lead swimmer who used either a two- or a six-beat kick, at an average v
elocity of 1.24 m . s(-1) (range 1.20-1.31). Drag was measured by passive t
owing. Oxygen consumption [49.1 (3.8) versus 50.4 (5.0) ml . min . kg(-1)],
blood lactate [6.7 (2.3) versus 6.8 (1.9) mM], heart rate [172 (13.6) vers
us 173.5 (12.5) beats . min(-1)), rating of perceived exertion [13.7 (1.2)
versus 13.5 (1.0)], stroke rate [38.3 (1.5) versus 39.5 (1.4) cycle . min(-
1)], stroke length [1.95 (0.09) versus 1.89 (0.15) m . cycle(-1)] were not
statistically different between the two-beat and the six-beat kick situatio
ns. The energy cost of swimming per unit of distance [0.65 (0.06) versus 0.
67 (0.08) ml O-2 . m(-1)] and the passive drag were similar for both kicks,
The distance separating the draftee from the lead swimmer was between 14 c
m and 85 cm and was inversely correlated with passive drag: r = -0.82, P <
0.05, for the six-beat kick. The higher the passive drag, the closer the ha
nd of the draftee to the feet of the lead swimmer. It was of no more benefi
t to triathletes to draft behind a two-beat kick swimmer than behind a six-
beat kick swimmer.