Team Termin Sports Performance

Performance Lab

VO^2 (Max Oxygen Consumption) Testing

Capelli, Carlo, Dave R. Pendergast, and B. Termin. “Energetics of Swimming at Maximal Speeds in Humans.” European Journal of Applied Physiology 78 (1998): 385-393.

Olympic Suit Testing (TYR Aquashift)

M. Mollendorf, Joseph C., Albert C. Termin II, Eric Oppenheim, and David R. Pendergast. “Effect of Swim Suit Design on Passive Drag.” Medicine & Science in Sport & Exercise 9. (May 2004): 1-7.

SUNY Foundation Inventor Poster

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In This Section..

This section provides a close look at advanced sports science. Each video includes detailed explanations to help follow along with what is being measured and why it matters.

VO^2 Max Testing (Aerobic Energy System)

From a swimming performance perspective, this is where the well-known term “aerobic base” originates. Many in the sport have heard the phrase, but few have actually seen how it is scientifically derived. The testing takes place at the Center for Research and Education in Special Environments (CRESE), located on the campus of the University at Buffalo.

One of the unique features of this facility is its doughnut-shaped pool, measuring 60 meters in circumference. Because of its slight arc, swimmers experience the sensation of swimming in a straight line without altering their technique. This design allows researchers to collect continuous performance measurements without the interruptions.

2004 Olympic Swim Suit Passive Drag Testing

Known as “passive drag testing,” this procedure involves towing a swimmer around the doughnut-shaped pool while gradually increasing velocity. The method is comparable to wind tunnel testing used with race cars or airplanes, but applied in an aquatic environment. During the test, the swimmer maintains a streamlined position, which allows researchers to measure the three primary forms of hydrodynamic drag: wave drag, pressure drag, and friction drag.

At the time, this approach was also used to evaluate different configurations of racing suits, helping determine which designs produced the lowest drag values and, ultimately, the greatest performance advantage.