Speed capabilities in swimming in view of optimal control theory

The author tries to help the attempts to solve certain optimization dilemma found not only in sport sciences, namely decision: which size of stimulus, quantitatively and qualitatively (e.g. training load) is best for the organism of the athlete. Pressure in the area of international sport competition is so big that in the choice between reasonably graded reduction of load with increase of regeneration effects on the one hand and further increasing of load according to rule “more helps more” on the other hand, it generally forces the choice of greater load. Fundamental here is a fear that the competition also exercises more and after possible defeat insufficient exercise will be pointed as a cause (Mester and Perl 2000). One way to solve such dilemmas is mathematical description of the analyzed phenomenon in form of a mathematical model. Possession of such tool enables to determine the best solutions in a sense of assumed criterion. The paper points out that basic problem causing that sport sciences cannot satisfactorily solve this problem is the complex nature of the phenomenon of psychophysical fitness, variegation of separate parameters and their changing action. So far it was not possible to contain in a model all variables influencing the fitness or parameters decisive for fitness in a way enabling transferring them to training with insignificant errors. Representation of time function, adaptation hiding behind these parameters, is extremely difficult (Maas and Mester 1996).