Background: Competitive swimming seasons involve long training periods with short competition phases, making the planning of training and recovery essential for optimal performance. Aim: To examine the effect of a 12-week transition period, after the main competition, on propulsive and physiological characteristics of competitive swimmers. Methods: Eight national- and international-level swimmers (5 female, 3 male, 21.3±4.9 yrs, 784.7±57.5 WA Points) were evaluated one week after a main competition (November 2025) and after a 12-week inter-season period (5 weeks of retention training, 3 weeks of off-season, and 4 weeks of preparatory training). Swimmers performed a five-stage, 25-m incremental semi-tethered swimming test using a power tower. Load (L) and 10-20 m mean velocity (V) were recorded to derive the load-velocity relationship, from which theoretical velocity at zero load (V0) and load at zero velocity (L0) were determined. Anaerobic alactic (AnAlC), lactic (AnLC) contributions were assessed, respectively, at each stage from the fast component of 30-s post-exercise oxygen uptake and the net amount of blood lactate accumulated between the third minute after each stage and the baseline. Total anaerobic contribution (TotAnC) was calculated as the sum of AnAlC and AnLC. Pre- and post-interseason values were compared using paired Student`s t-tests. Results: No significant differences were observed for V0 (pre=1.45±0.28 m/s vs. post=1.42±0.25 m/s, p=0.51, d=-0.25) and L0 (pre=8.6±4.0 kg vs. post=8.6±3.6 kg, p=0,96, d=0.02). L and V across incremental stages were also unchanged (p>0.05). AnAlC significantly decreased in the second (p<0.01, d=2.27), third (p<0.01, d=1.08) and fourth (p=0.03, d=0.79) stages. AnLC decreased on the first stage (p=0.03, d=0.79). TotAnC was reduced in the second (p<0.01, d=1.79), third (p<0.01, d=1.26) and fourth (p<0.01, d=1.92) stages. Conclusion: A 12-week transition period preserved propulsive capacity despite reduction in anaerobic contributions during the incremental test, possibly due to the preservation of neuromuscular factors and strength-related capacities.
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