Table 1. Description of the experimental and coach-prescribed swimming recovery protocols. Experimental Coach-prescribed * Activity 1 X 300-m: easy 2 X 50-m kick: first 10-m hard, last 15-m easy 1 X 200-m: steady 6 X 50-m moderate, 20 sec rest between sets 8 X 50-m: self-paced 4 X 25-m kick: moderate, 15 sec rest between sets 2 X 100-m: easy 1 X 200-m: easy Total volume 1000 meters 800 meters Total duration 20-25 min 15-25 min * = Rest times were arbitrary. The terms “easy”, “moderate”, “hard”, “steady” and “self-paced” all refer to the swimming pace that the performers had to maintain. The apt execution of each pace was supervised by the swimmers’ federal technical director. This meant that when needed, swimmers were verbally encouraged to further adapt their pace according to the specific activity.