From the pool to open water: key factors shaping performance across Aquatic Sports

Sports practiced within aquatic environments encompass a wide range of both competitive and recreational forms. While established Olympic water sports such as swimming and water polo have been well studied, a broad spectrum of aquatic sports/activities (e.g., canoe polo, underwater hockey, surfing, bodyboarding, stand-up paddleboarding - SUP, cliff diving, windsurfing or skimboarding) remains underexplored in scientific literature. Despite sharing fundamental skills, aquatic environments impose distinct performance challenges, including variations in water conditions (e.g., temperature), pacing strategies (when applicable), the use or non-use of aids/implements (e.g., a kickboard) and biophysical demands (e.g., biomechanical and physiological responses). Recent studies have underscored the complex interplay of biomechanical, physiological, and technical factors to performance, yet clear frameworks for integrating these domains across diverse aquatic contexts are lacking. So, understanding the multifactorial interactions that underpin and shape performance is crucial for informing coaching practice, optimizing the training process, promoting participation and guiding talent identification.This Research Topic aims to consolidate scientific knowledge on the key factors shaping performance across the spectrum of aquatic sports/activities, whether practiced in pools or open water environments. The boundaries of this Research Topic encompass all sports or activities performed within aquatic environments, from highly regulated pool competitions to open water events characterized by variable natural conditions. Studies may address both acute and long-term adaptations, as well as methodological advances and comparative frameworks.To gather further insights into this domain, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Biophysical factors (e.g., biomechanical and physiological) influencing aquatic sports/activities participation and performance;• Acute and long-term effects/adaptation to the training and competition processes;• Comparative analyses of different aquatic contexts (e.g., pool vs. open water swimming);• Application of equipment and technologies to optimize training and competitive performance;• Development and validation of reliable assessment methodologies;• Long-term athlete development, talent identification, and progression pathways in aquatic sports. Topic editors: Catarina C. Santos, Mário J. Costa, Jesús J. Ruiz-Navarro, Roberto Cejuela Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77390/from-the-pool-to-open-water-key-factors-shaping-performance-across-aquatic-sports