Swimming speed depends on anthropometric characteristics, biomechanics factors, physical fitness, physiological components, and genetics. Therefore, this study aimed to identify which anthropometric characteristics influence swimming speed in adolescent competitive swimmers. Thirty-eight male swimmers (aged 16.94 ± 0.8 years; body height: 178.3 ± 5.4 cm; body weight 67.7 ± 9.6 kg) and thirty-five female swimmers (aged 17.12 ± 0.7 years; body height: 175.1 ± 6.6 cm; body weight 59.9 ± 7.1 kg) participated in the study. All swimmers have competed at the national level in Serbia for at least three years and have at least five years of training experience. Fifteen variables were measured: arm length, hand length, leg length, foot length, seat height, wrist diameter, ankle joint diameter, elbow diameter, chest circumference, triceps skinfold, forearm skinfold, abdominal skinfold, subscapular skinfold, thigh skinfold, calf skinfold. The measurements were taken by the Martin anthropometer, Omron digital scale BF511, and John Bull caliper. Swimming speed was measured during 50-m and 100-m front crawl swimming. Multiple regression analysis revealed that arm length, wrist diameter, and chest circumference, all together, accounted for 77% of 100-m front crawl swimming speed in male swimmers, while abdominal skinfold accounted for 90% of 100-m front crawl swimming speed in female swimmers. Results showed that anthropometric characteristics could not account for adolescent swimmers' 50-m front crawl swimming speed. However, anthropometric characteristics can influence the result in swimming (100-m front crawl swimming speed) in adolescents and thus should be considered a diagnostic tool in selecting young swimmers.
References
Beretić, I., Romanov, R., & Stupar, D. (2023). The relationship between anthropometric variables and swimming efficiency in early pubescent female front crawl swimmers. International Journal of Morphology, 1, 303–307.
De Barros Sousa, F., Rodrigues, N., Messias, L., Queiroz, J., Manchado-Gobatto, F., & Gobatto, C. (2017). Aerobic and anaerobic swimming force evaluation in one single test session for young swimmers. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 05, 378–383.
De Mello Vitor, F., & Böhme, M. (2010). Performance of young male swimmers in the 100meter front crawl. Pediatric Exercise Science, 2, 278–287.
Dimitrić, G., Čokorilo, N., & Bogdanovski, M. (2016). Relations between anthropometric characteristics and motor abilities of 14-15U female swimmers on 50m result for each technique. Sport Mont, 3, 37–40.
Fernandes, R., Barbosa, T., & Vilas-Boas, J. (2002). Fatores cineantropométricos determinantes em natação pura desportiva = Determinant kinantropometric factors in swimming. Revista Brasileira de Cineantropometria e Desempenho Humano, 1, 67–79.
Ferraz, R., Branquinho, L., Loupo, R., Neiva, H., & Marinho, D. (2020). The relationship between anthropometric characteristics and sports performance in national-level young swimmers. European Journal of Human Movement, 45.
Figueiredo, P., Silva, A., Sampaio, A., Vilas-Boas, J., & Fernandes, R. (2016). Front crawl sprint performance: A cluster analysis of biomechanics, energetics, coordinative, and anthropometric determinants in young swimmers. Motor Control, 3, 209–221.
Keiner, M., Wirth, K., Fuhrmann, S., Kunz, M., Hartmann, H., & Haff, G. (2021). The influence of upper-and lower-body maximum strength on swim block start, turn, and overall swim performance in sprint swimming. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 10, 2839–2845.
Kumar, P., & Solanki, M. (2019). Anthropometric variables as predictor of performance in swimming. International Journal of Physiology, 1, 1631–1635.
Lätt, E., Jürimäe, J., Mäestu, J., Purge, P., Rämson, R., Haljaste, K., Jürimäe, ., & T. (2010). Physiological, biomechanical and anthropometrical predictors of sprint swimming performance in adolescent swimmers. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 3, 398–404.
Leko, G., & Grčić-Zubčević, N. (2004). Selecting children for swimming school-the case of Croatia. Kinesiology, 2, 192–205.
Li, T., & Zhan, J. (2015). Hydrodynamic body shape analysis and their impact on swimming performance. Acta of Bioengineering and Biomechanics, 4, 3–11.
Lima-Borges, D., Portilho, N., Araujo, D., Ravagnani, C., & Almeida, J. (2022). Anthropometry and physical performance in swimmers of different styles. Science & Sports, 1, 542–551.
Lohman, T., Roche, A., & Martorell, R. (1988). Anthropometric standardization reference manual.
Marković, V., & Ugarković, D. (2010). The impact of anthropometric dimensions on the results of swimmers. Science & Practice, 173.
Martínez, S., Pasquarelli, B., Romaguera, D., Arasa, C., Tauler, P., & Aguiló, A. (2011). Anthropometric characteristics and nutritional profile of young amateur swimmers. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 4, 1126–1133.
Moura, T., Costa, M., Oliveira, S., Júnior, M., Ritti-Dias, R., & Santos, M. (2014). Height and body composition determine arm propulsive force in youth swimmers independent of a maturation stage. Journal of Human Kinetics, 1, 277–284.
Nasirzade, A., Ehsanbakhsh, A., Argavani, H., Sobhkhiz, A., & Aliakbari, M. (2014). Selected anthropometrical, muscular architecture, and biomechanical variables as predictors of 50-m performance of front crawl swimming in young male swimmers. Science & Sports, 5, 75-e81.
Özkadı, T., Demirkan, E., Can, S., Alagöz, I., & Demir, E. (2022). Contribution of motoric and anthropometric components to the fifty-meter four swimming styles: Model approaches. Science & Sports, 4, 316-e317.
Páez, L., & Martínez-Díaz, I. (2021). Training vs. competition in sport: state anxiety and response of stress hormones in young swimmers. Journal of Human Kinetics, 1, 103–112.
Rozi, G., Thanopoulos, V., Geladas, N., Soultanaki, E., & Dopsaj, M. (2018). Anthropometric characteristics and physiological responses of high level swimmers and performance in 100 m freestyle swimming. Movement & Sport Sciences-Science & Motricité, 101, 3–7.
Saavedra, J., Escalante, Y., & Rodríguez, F. (2010). A multivariate analysis of performance in young swimmers. Pediatric Exercise Science, 1, 135–151.
Sammoud, S., Negra, Y., Chaabene, H., Bouguezzi, R., Attia, A., Granacher, U., Nevill, ., & A. (2022). Key anthropometric variables associated with frontcrawl swimming performance in youth swimmers: an allometric approach. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 6, 1259–1263.
Santos, D., Henrique, M., Salvina, R., Silva, M., Junior, A., Queiroz, M., D, Nevill, ., & A. (2021). The influence of anthropometric variables, body composition, propulsive force and maturation on 50m freestyle swimming performance in junior swimmers: An allometric approach. Journal of Sports Sciences, 14, 1615–1620.
Strzala, M., Stanula, A., Krezalek, P., Ostrowski, A., Kaca, M., & Glab, G. (2019). Influence of morphology and strength on front crawl swimming speed in junior and youth age-group swimmers. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 10, 2836–2845.
Volčanšek, B. (2002). Bit plivanja: Kineziološki fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu.
Vorontsov, A., Dyrco, V., Binevsky, D., Solomatin, V., & Sidorov, N. (2002). Patterns of growth for some characteristics of physical development, functional and motor abilities in boyswimmers 11-18 years. Godišnjak Fakulteta Sporta i Fizičkog Vaspitanja, 11, 303–311.
Yarar, H., Barug, D., Bostan, A., Kaya, A., & Aydin, E. (2021). Influence of physical and anthropometric properties on sprint swimming performance. Pakistan Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, 2, 814–818.
Zampagni, M., Casino, D., Benelli, P., Visani, A., Marcacci, M., & De Vito, G. (2008). Anthropometric and strength variables to predict freestyle performance times in elite master swimmers. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 4, 1298–1307.
The statements, opinions and data contained in the journal are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publisher and the editor(s). We stay neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
,
