Résumé
Purpose: To measure core temperature (Tcore) in open-water (OW) swimmers during a 25-km competition and identify the predictors of Tcore drop and hypothermia-related dropouts. Methods: Twenty-four national- and international-level OW swimmers participated in the study. Participants completed a personal questionnaire and a body fat/muscle mass assessment before the race. The average speed was calculated on each lap over a 2500-m course. Tcore was continuously recorded via an ingestible temperature sensor (e-Celsius, BodyCap). Hypothermia-related dropouts (H group) were compared with finishers (nH group). Results: Average prerace Tcore was 37.5 degrees C (0.3 degrees C) (N = 21). 7 participants dropped out due to hypothermia (H, n = 7) with a mean Tcore at dropout of 35.3 degrees C (1.5 degrees C). Multiple logistic regression analysis found that body fat percentage and initial Tcore were associated with hypothermia (G2 =17.26, P < .001). Early Tcore drop <= 37.1 degrees C at 2500 m was associated with a greater rate of hypothermia-related dropouts (71.4% vs 14.3%, P = .017). Multiple linear regression found that body fat percentage and previous participation were associated with Tcore drop (F = 4.95, P = .019). There was a positive correlation between the decrease in speed and Tcore drop (r = .462, P < .001). Conclusions: During an OW 25-km competition at 20 degrees C to 21 degrees C, lower initial Tcore and lower body fat, as well as premature Tcore drop, were associated with an increased risk of hypothermia-related dropout. Lower body fat and no previous participation, as well as decrease in swimming speed, were associated with Tcore drop.