Over the past decade, considerable emphasis has been placed on blood lactic acid measurement during submaximal and maximal training swims as an aid to the design of training programs. The earlier work of Mader, Heck, and Hollman (1976) was applied to swimming by such researchers as Sharp, Vitelli, Costill, and Thomas (1984) and Maglischo, Maglischo, Smith, Bishop, and Horland (1984}. A review article of these applications has recently been published (Heck et al., 1985). Sawka, Knowlton, Miles, and Critz (1979), who reported on blood lactate values obtained in collegiate swimmers, pointed out that very little information has been published on the maximal levels of blood lactate accumulation during competition. The purpose of the current investigation was to measure postcompetition blood lactate levels from some of Australia's best S"\\immers. More specificially, the purposes were to determine (a) the postcompetition maximal blood lactate concentrations (MBLA) obtained during heats and finals; (b) the values attained by more and less accomplished swimmers; and (c) MBLA values of male and female competitors during 25- and 50-m pool competitions in successive weeks.
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