Adaptations within female US Olympic swimming medalists' competition-day routines: A mixed-methods approach.

This study examined how female US Olympic medalist swimmers adapt their competition-day routines across differently formatted swimming competitions to distinguish flexible from inflexible routine components. Using interviews and observations of six elite swimmers at Olympic and national-level meets, the research found that outside the competition venue, athletes adapted routine segments based on competition format and individual schedules, while inside the venue, the sequence, scope, and duration of routine segments remained consistent and inflexible. Adaptations within the venue occurred at the behavioral level, with swimmers varying their actions—such as warm-up activities and social interactions—without altering the overall timeline. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining a structured timeline at the venue while allowing behavioral flexibility, offering practical guidance for coaches to help athletes optimize competition-day preparation.