Table 3 Summary of anaerobic and aerobic relevant measures and major findings of the reviewed studies

Almeida et al. 2020 [1]

MAV, V̇O₂peak, La, ΔLa

Absolute V̇O₂peak and MAV were significantly correlated with swimmers performance at PB50 (r =  − 0.81, r =  − 0.70, P < 0.01), PB100 (r =  − 0.82, r =  − 0.77, P < 0.01) and PB200 (r =  − 0.75 and r =  − 0.75, P < 0.01), respectively. VO₂peak of each maximal test was correlated with the swimmers personal best times (r = -0.82, -0.84, -0.76, P < 0.01, for the 50, 100 and 200 m tests, respectively)

Chatard et al. 1990 [9]

V̇O₂max

V̇O₂max and 400 m freestyle time positively correlated in males (r = 0.70; p < 0.01) and females (r = 0.72; p < 0.01)

de Barros Sousa et al. 2017 [12]

Fmax, tFmax, Fmean, Fmin, FI, SLOPE, LMI iTSLacmin

100 m freestyle time negatively correlated with iTSLacmin (r = -0.67; p = 0.04), Fmax (r = -0.79; p < 0.01), tFmax (r = -0.68; p = 0.03), Fmean (r = -0.72; p = 0.02), Fmin (r = -0.67; p = 0.03) and positively with SLOPE (r = 0.82; p < 0.01). 200 m freestyle time negatively correlated with iTSLacmin (r = -0.80; p < 0.01), Fmax (r = -0.91; p < 0.01), tFmax (r = -0.63; p = 0.05), Fmean (r = -0.87; p < 0.01), Fmin (r = -0.84; p < 0.01) and positively with SLOPE (r = 0.87; p < 0.01). No significant correlations were found between 100 and 200 m freestyle performance and FI

de Mello Vitor & Böhme, 2010 [13]

AnP, CS

100 m freestyle average speed positively correlated with AnP (R2 = 0.67; p < 0.01) and CS (R2 = 0.34; p < 0.01)

Duché et al. 1993 [16]

V̇O₂max, MP

V̇O₂max positively correlated with 50 m (r = 0.70; p < 0.01) and 400 m freestyle performance (r = 0.67; p < 0.001). MP in 30 s cycle ergometer positively correlated with 100 m (r = 0.59; p < 0.05) and 400 m (r = 0.42; p < 0.05) freestyle performance

Espada et al. 2015 [17]

V̇O₂max, v V̇O₂max, MAV, 97.5% (infra) and 102.5% (supra) MLSSv

vV̇O₂max negatively correlated with 400 m (r = -0.70; p < 0.01) and 800 m (r = -0.72, p < 0.01) freestyle time. 400 m freestyle time positively correlated with time constant at Infra-MLSSv (r = 0.64; p < 0.03). 800 m freestyle performance positively correlated with time constant at infra-MLSSv (r = 0.75; p < 0.01) and supra-MLSSv (r = 0.58; p ≤ 0.05)

Ferreira et al. 2021 [21]

BLc, ΔLa

ΔLa positively correlated with 400 m freestyle speed improvements (r = 0.35; p < 0.05). BLc positively correlated with 400 m performance at four testing moments in the season (r = 0.50, 0.72, 0.62, 0.55, p < 0.05)

Hawley et al. 1992 [29]

AnP, peak sustained workload

Relationship between 50 m freestyle speed and MP of arms (r = 0.63) and legs (r = 0.76) Relationship between 400 m speed and peak sustained workload (r = 0.70)

Hellard et al. 2018 [31]

V̇O₂, BL, total energy expenditure, aerobic, alactic and lactic anerobic contributions

Faster 100 m freestyle performance associated with higher V̇O₂ and aerobic power

Jürimäe et al. 2007 [35]

V̇O₂peak, FFM, Cs, ΔLa

400 m freestyle time negatively correlated with V̇O₂peak (r = -0.618; p = 0.0001) and FFM (r = –0.593; p < 0.05). BF%, ΔLa and Cs had no relationship with 400 m freestyle performance

Kalva-Filho et al. 2018 [39]

LMI, AnP

LMI positively correlated with 200 m freestyle swimming speed (r = 0.71; p = 0.001) and 30 min freestyle swimming speed (r = 0.70; p = 0.004). MF positively correlated with 200 m freestyle speed (r = 0.82; p = 0.001) and 30 min freestyle speed (r = 0.76; p = 0.001)

Klika & Thorland, 1994 [41]

Peak V̇O₂, arm-stroke force and leg stroke force

Multiple discriminant function identified leg kick force, peak V̇O₂, stroke efficiency and muscularity as predictors of performance level (Multiple discriminant function coefficient = unstandardized 0.822, 0.221, 0.732; standardized 1.87, 1.48, 1.08

Lätt et al. 2009 [42]

Cs, V̇O₂, ∆La

V̇O₂ (R2 > 0.346; p < 0.05) predicted 400 m freestyle swimming performance. Stepwise regression analysis revealed all bioenergetical factors combined (∆La, Cs and predicted VO₂) predicted 400 m freestyle performance (R2 > 0.311; p < 0.05)

Lätt et al. 2010 [43]

Cs, V̇O₂peak, ∆La

∆La and Cs negatively correlated with 100 m freestyle performance (r = -0.598; -0.544; P ≤ 0.05). Multiple linear regression identified ∆La, La3, La5 and Cs positively correlated with 100 m swimming performance (R2 = 0.551; p = 0.004). V̇O₂ parameters were not significantly correlated with swimming performance

Maszczyk et al. 2012 [50]

Lung capacity

Lung capacity were key predictive factors of 50 m freestyle performance in when used in regression models

Mezzaroba et al. 2013a [51]

LM, BF%

LM correlated with 100 m, 200, and 400 m freestyle in males (r = 0.92, 0.97, 0.96, P < 0.001) and females (r = 0.89, 0.91, 0.80, P < 0.001) respectively. LM did not correlate with BF%

Mezzaroba et al. 2013b [52]

LM, Lapeak,CS

LM and CS predicted 100 m, 200 m and 400 m freestyle times in males (r2 = 0.951, 0.992, 0.988) and females (r2 = 0.816, 0.950, 0.992), respectively

Mitchell et al. 2018 [53]

CS

CS indicated as a performance indicator for male and female 200 m swimmers (r = -0.42; -0.47) through multiple linear regression model

Morouço et al. 2014 [58]

AnP, MAV, MAI

50 m freestyle swimming speed positively correlated with MAV (r = 0.76; 0.81; p < 0.001) and MAI (r = 0.91; 0.70; p < 0.001)

Papoti et al. 2009 [61]

AC, MLSS

AC significantly correlated with 400 m freestyle velocity

Papoti et al. 2013 [60]

V̇O₂max, LT, CF, AnIMPc, AnF

iV̇O₂max, LT, CF, AnIMPc and AnF positively correlated with 100 m freestyle (r = 0.89; 0.70; 0.48; 0.76; 0.86; p < 0.05) 200 m freestyle (r = 0.89; 0.74; 0.63; 0.66; 0.78; p < 0.05) and 400 m freestyle performance (r = 0.92; 0.80; 0.60; 0.59; 0.71; p < 0.05)

Pardos-Mainer et al. 2015 [62]

V̇O₂max

V̇O₂max had significant correlations with 50 m freestyle time (r = -0.435; p < 0.05)

Reis et al. 2010 [71]

V̇O₂, BL, BF%

200 m breaststroke performance was predicted by the combination of aerobic fraction on energy release (AER), peak BL post-exercise and VO₂ elicited at the swimming velocity corresponding to the 2 mmol.L-1 threshold. 100 m breaststroke performance was predicted by the combination of BF%, V̇O₂ elicited at the swimming velocity corresponding to the 4 mmol.L-1 threshold and VO₂peak

Ribeiro et al. 1990 [72]

V̇O₂max, lactate max

400 m freestyle performance positively correlated with v85%VO₂max (r = 0.90; p < 0.01) and vBL4mmol (r = 0.89; p < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis found the v85% V̇O₂max and the vBL4mmol positively correlated with maximal swimming velocity in 400 m freestyle (R2 = 0.83, p < 0.001)

Rodríguez et al. 2015 [74]

Lapeak

100 m freestyle mean swimming speed positively correlated with Lapeak (r = 0.73; p = 0.0001)

Saavedra et al. 2010 [76]

Aerobic endurance, speed endurance

Positive correlations between swimming performance and endurance shuttle run (r = 0.369; p ≤ 0.05), 30 min test (r = 0.700; p ≤ 0.05), 6 × 50 speed endurance (r = 0.685; p ≤ 0.05)

Smith et al. 1988 [81]

V̇O₂, V̇O₂max

100 m and 200 m backstroke times were negatively correlated with WA-VO₂ (r = -0.50; -0.66). V̇O₂max was positively correlated with 100 m backstroke velocity (r = 0.74) and 200 m backstroke velocity (r = 0.48)

Strzala et al. 2015 [82]

V̇O₂peak

200 m breaststroke velocity positively correlated with V̇O₂peak (r = 0.41; p < 0.05), 200 m turning performance positively correlated V̇O₂peak (r = 0.41; p < 0.05)

Unnithan et al. 2009 [86]

V̇O₂, Cs

V̇O₂ relative to BW was positively correlated with national ranking at 200 m (r = 0.67; p < 0.05). Cs at 1.1 m · s − 1 negatively correlated with national ranking at 50 m (r = -0.66; p = 0.038), 100 m (r = -0.83; p = 0.003), 200 m (r = -0.73; p = 0.017), 500 m (r = -0.811; p = 0.004) and 1000 m (r = -0.678; p = 0.031) and positively for race time at 200 m (r = 0.783; p = 0.007)