The magazine “Triathlete” (USA) highlights the research carried out at FADEUP in recent years, emphasizing the work developed at LABIOMEP.
The FADEUP pool is the site of several studies carried out by LABIOMEP researchers with swimmers. Photo: DR
A Faculty of Sports of the University of Porto (FADEUP) yes”a world reference in swimming research”according to articles from Triathletea recognized publication from North America in the field of Triathlon.
According to the article’s author, journalist Elaine K. Howley, 2023 Buck Dawson Author Award winner and freewater swimmer, FADEUP played a “vital role” in the evolution of knowledge about freewater technique, through the Porto Biomechanics Laboratory (LABIOMEP)“a center of research excellence”, and with significant participation from professors João Paulo Vilas-Boas e Ricardo Fernandes.
According to Triathlete, in the last 39 years there has been a “small mountain” of studies on the efficient way in which people can move in water. During this period, and out of a total of 508 articles published worldwide on the biomechanics of freestyle swimming, 280 came from FADEUP, through LABIOMEP, which established itself as a “world leader in swimming research”, says the North American publication .
An important focus of the work carried out by the LABIOMEP team is the precise measurement of the forces generated by swimming pool propulsion. However, researchers continue to face challenges in obtaining accurate measurements due to the aquatic environment.
In addition to the pool, LABIOMEP researchers are extending their studies to open water swimming. They adapted snorkel systems for oxygen monitoring, allowing accurate data to be collected even in a marine environment.
Elaine K. Howley’s article cites Professor Ricardo Fernandes to point out that although biomechanics in open waters presents unique challenges, “these pioneering studies will open doors to new research work in the field”.
The famous triathlon publication also emphasizes the collaboration between science and practice as a “distinctive mark” of the work of professor and researcher João Paulo Vilas-Boas, who combines his experience as a researcher and Olympic coach. This dual role allowed scientific discoveries to be directly applied to swimmers’ training, which significantly improved performance. The holistic approach proposed by the duo of Portuguese researchers considers the athlete’s entire physiology and biomechanics, promoting personalized and more effective training.
The international award achieved by research from LABIOMEP, according to the North American publication, reflects “the commitment of researchers to solve the mysteries of freestyle swimming and optimize the performance of swimmers, reaffirming the importance of science in high-competitive sport”.