Application of methodology to reduce the performance of non-disabled athletes

The aim of this study is to verify, from a physical point of view, through an analysis of qualitative and quantitative differences if sightless athletes can eliminate, or reduce as much as possible, major differences between them and non-disabled athletes. This investigation is focused on the research of a methodology to reduce non-disabled athletes’ performances in order to allow the development of a unite competition between them and competitive athletes, belonging to S11-13 categories (visual impairment). A series of two-group tests of athletes have been proposed: Group A formed of ten non-disabled athletes with an age between 16 and 18 years old and Group B formed of ten athletes affected with disabilities and with an age between 16 and 18 years old. These tests allowed the evaluation of athletic skills of swimmers at the beginning and later at the end of a training program for both groups. The training imposes a first part focused on the improvement of the swimming technique with targeted workouts: an inclusive gym environment to be attended three times a week for strength and resistance enhancement and pool workouts subdivided in 70% aerobic, 24% intense aerobic and 6% anaerobic and speed exercises. This kind of training would help athletes to improve their physical condition and allows also the development of a united competition between the two groups. The results have been compared by using Student t-test for two samples paired. This comparison between pre-workout and post-workout data led to an improvement on in athletes affected with a visual disability, reducing the number of strokes for length and an improvement of performances for 50 metres length.