Effects of Combined Exercise Training on Fin Swimmers' Physical Fitness, Fin Performance Strategies, and Competition Records

This study examined the influence of complex exercise training on physical fitness, fin performance strategies, and competitive records of short- and middle-distance fin swimmers. Participants were seventeen elite swimmers officially registered with the Korea Underwater Fin Swimming Association. The program was implemented five sessions per week for twelve consecutive weeks. Training included core conditioning, resistance work, plyometric practice, and underwater drills. Exercise intensity was regulated using both subjective ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and maximum heart rate percentage. To analyze variable changes, mean and standard deviation were calculated, and paired t-tests were performed with SPSS version 26.0. Results indicated significant findings. Body weight of middle-distance swimmers increased notably (p<.05). Muscle strength improved across both sprint and middle-distance groups (p<.05, p<.01). However, flexibility and vertical jump values declined after training. Regarding fin performance strategies, only middle-distance swimmers showed significant gains in relaxation ability (p<.01). For competitive outcomes, seven of eight middle-distance athletes demonstrated improved race performance following training. These findings highlight the importance of selecting proper training intensities and combining diverse methods for elite fin swimmers. Furthermore, future investigations should pursue more refined approaches by considering specific competitive events, accumulated career experience, and gender-based differences among athletes.