Background: Conventional optoelectronic motion capture systems for swimming analysis present critical limitations in portability, cost, and ecological validity, motivating the development of alternative approaches. Our research group has systematically validated action sport cameras (ASCs) as an accurate, low-cost solution for dual-medium 3D kinematic reconstruction in aquatic environments. Despite these methodological contributions, exploring newer and more versatile technologies remains essential to further enhance biomechanical assessment in aquatic sports, both in controlled pool settings and open-water conditions. Aim: This presentation aim to highlight established methodological contributions to swimming kinematics using ASCs, and to explore the feasibility of emerging technologies — including drone-based aerial tracking and inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors — for motion analysis in swimming pools and open-water environments. Methods: First, the accuracy of our validated multi-camera ASC setup and dual-medium calibration framework is presented. Second, literature data exploring the use of drones for overhead swimming capture and extraction of macroscopic spatiotemporal parameters are reviewed. Third, the potential of IMU sensors as a complementary approach for continuous, wearable kinematic monitoring in aquatic settings is discussed. Results: Our established ASC protocol demonstrated high reconstruction accuracy, with mean absolute errors below 3.0 mm for 30 kinematics in both aerial and underwater environments. Regarding emerging technologies, aerial drone tracking enabled seamless, non-invasive capture of continuous over-water displacements at the field scale. However, this approach remains limited to macroscopic biomechanical variables, as camera lens distortion, water surface reflections, and drone stability currently compromise precise coordinate extraction. IMU sensors showed complementary potential for stroke-level kinematic monitoring, independent of optical constraints. Conclusions: While our previous contributions firmly establish ASCs as reliable tools for complex 30 dual-medium kinematics, emerging drone technology and IMU sensors offer promising horizons for simplified, large-scale ecological assessments. Ongoing systematic evaluation of accuracy, precision, and ecological validity of these technologies remains essential before widespread adoption in applied swimming biomechanics research and coaching practice.
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