Morais, J.E.Barbosa, Tiago M.Lopes, Tiago J.Marinho, D.A.2022-05-122022-05-122022Morais, J.E; Barbosa, Tiago M.; Lopes, Tiago; Marinho, D.A. (2022). Race level comparison and variability analysis of 100 m freestyle sprinters competing in the 2019 European championships. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport. ISSN 1474-8185. p. 1-152474-8668http://hdl.handle.net/10198/25433This study aimed to (i) compare the race performance of the swimmers with better performances and poorer performances during all sections of a 100 m freestyle event and (ii) compare stroke kinematics variables between tiers and analyse their stability in each tier. The sample was composed of 88 swimmers that participated in the 100 m Freestyle event at the 2019 LEN European Junior Championships. Speed achieved the largest difference between tiers in section (S) S0-15 m of lap #1 (mean difference = -0.109 s, p < 0.001). During the clean swim and finish phases, the stroke length and stroke index presented significant differences (p < 0.05) between tiers in all sections of the race (stroke frequency did not). Significant variances were noted for both tiers in all variables in both laps. Swimmers in tier #1 were significantly faster than swimmers in tier #2 especially in sections related to the push-off against a solid (block or wall), and finish. A significant variance was noted by both tiers during the race with a moderate-to-high normative stability. Coaches are advised to analyse and understand the swimmers' within-lap stability, which can give deeper details about their swimmers' behaviour during the 100 m freestyle race.engSwimmingRace analysisPerformanceStabilityStrategyjournal article10.1080/24748668.2022.2054622