183 General discussion 8 concentrated on a specific set of factors linked to the swimmer, excluding considerations of the environment. Moreover, while we adopted a multidimensional approach by examining factors representing relevant anthropometrical, physiological, psychological, technical and tactical aspects, our analyses focused on studying each of the underlying performance characteristics in isolation. Yet, it's important to acknowledge that potential interactions between these variables are undoubtedly in play (Barbosa et al., 2010; Abbott et al., 2021), such as the proposed relationship pacing behavior and SRL (Elferink-Gemser and Hettinga, 2017). Third, this thesis captures merely glimpse of the long and complex pathway towards swimming expertise for a specific group of swimmers. While Chapters 2 through 4 mapped out the developmental trajectory of 100m- and 200m freestyle swimmers from puberty to adulthood, the same level of homogeneity and comprehensiveness was not achieved in Chapters 5 through 7. In these later chapters, we longitudinally followed sprint and middle-distance swimmers, performing in different strokes, over two separate, developmental phases: from their early to late junior years, and from their late junior to early senior years. However, we do acknowledge that, if possible, studies should strive to capture the developmental pathway for as long as possible, preferably incorporating event-specific analyses. At the same time, based on our own research, we are well aware of the challenges presented by the small sample sizes inherent in elite sports, as well as the complexities of conducting longitudinal studies. Repeatedly measuring the same swimmer over multiple years demands strong commitment from both scientists and coaches, alongside a measurement protocol that minimally disrupts training time while maintaining scientific rigor. The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly heightened the difficulty of this process, significantly impacting our ability to collect data on talented swimmers. Future directions This thesis’s insights regarding the pathway to swimming expertise establish a solid foundation for future studies, with three specific directions explored in this section. These directions should be considered as complementary to the longitudinal and multidimensional tracking of swimmers over time, addressing persisting gaps in our understanding, as illustrated by the athletic profiles. Other underlying performance characteristics such as measures of hydrodynamics, power output in the water and aerobic capacity, as well as psychological characteristics that were not investigated in this study, are recommended to be included in such analyses as well. The first direction for future research is to delve deeper into factors that facilitate or hinder progression, considering both variables related to the swimmer, as well as environmental ones. For instance, it would be interesting to further specify general developmental patterns in relation to swimmers’ timing of maturation. Furthermore, gaining insight into
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTk4NDMw