The Impact of Altitude Training on NCAA Division I Female Swimmers’ Performance
According to “Endurance Training at Altitude” by Philo U. Saunders and colleagues and “Impaired Interval Exercise Responses in Elite Female Cyclists at Moderate Simulated Altitude” by Maria J. Brosnan and colleagues, athletes in many endurance-based sports believe altitude training assists with higher levels of performance at lower altitudes. Head coach Christopher Woodard and assistant coach Lisa Ginder of the Colorado State University women’s swimming and diving team claim to have seen dramatic time improvements in their swimmers’ performances after training at high altitudes and competing at lower altitudes. They suggest “time drops are because of positive psychological responses and psychological adaptations within the swimmers.” Ginder notes when traveling to lower altitudes after having trained heavily at higher elevations, swimmers have felt swimming is easier and they can swim faster times at sea level.
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