Thirty-four elite swimmers (22 female, 12 male, world record ratio (WRR) = 107.0 ± 3.1%) completed a modified 3 minute test (12x25m) as a part of their routine sport science support. This test involved a series of unpaced maximal 12x25m intervals interspersed with 5 s rest periods. The model speed = a.eb.time + c was fitted to the data and integrated to calculate supra-critical speed distance capacity (D`). The slowest two of the last four efforts were averaged to calculate critical speed (CS). Peak speed was recorded as the fastest average velocity for a single 25 m effort and drop off % was the percentage difference between peak speed and CS. Season`s best times in 50 m, 100 m and 200 m events were compared to world record to calculate a world record ratio (WRR) where WRR = Swimmers time/World Record x 100. Variables were all compared to performance using a multiple linear regression model with sex and stroke as covariates. This analysis showed that peak speed had a strong relationship with 100 m WRR; R2 = 0.62. Faster peak speeds related to lower WRRs. This was also true for CS which related to 200 m performance with an R2 = 0.61. Drop off % comparisons showed trivial relationships to performance, and D` related best with 50 m WRR (R2 = 0.37). For D` a second order polynomial model achieved a higher R2 value, indicating that for 50 m and 100 m events there may be an optimal value for this metric, 24.2 and 25.2 m respectively. The 12x25m test is a simple, practical and viable alternative for CS testing and also offers two useful metrics, peak speed and D`, for the assessment of the anaerobic system as well.
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