PREDICTION OF 100 m FRONT CRAWL PERFORMANCE THROUGH ANTHROPOMETRICAL CHARACTERISTICS IN YOUTH GREEK SWIMMERS ACCORDING TO GENDER

Abstract

Aim. Investigate the predictive relationship between 100 m front crawl swimming performance of youth swimmers and anthropometric characteristics. Materials and methods. Fifty-one active athletes (n = 30 male and n = 21 female) participated in the research and for the purposes of the analysis were divided into two categories (13-15 years n = 32, and 16-18 years old, n = 19). The following anthropometric data were used as set of predictive variables (7 longitudinal, 7 skinfolds, 3 circumference and 1 voluminosity variables). Results. One prediction model for each gender and age group emerged. The percentage of the explained variance of the dependent variable (100 m front crawl performance time) is 84.6 %, 54.4 %, 71.1 % and 72.7 % respectively for male, female, youth and cadet swimmers. The significant variables for each model were: arm span, biceps skinfold, biceps bracchi circumference in contraction for male swimmers, sitting height for female swimmers, biceps bracchi circumference in contraction and body weight for youth swimmers, triceps skinfold and biceps bracchi circumference in contraction for cadet swimmers. Conclusion. Youth swimmers' performance can be predicted by important anthropometric parameters.

How Anthropometrics of Young and Adolescent Swimmers Influence Stroking Parameters and Performance? A Systematic Review

“…In parallel, higher fat mass may impose increased values of body cross-sectional area and, consequently, total drag. Regarding more detailed body composition variables, it seems that total sum of skinfolds [ 32 ] and biceps skinfold [ 41 , 47 ] compromised front crawl performance. Skinfolds measures are used to assess the skinfold thickness, so that a prediction of the total amount of body fat of the swimmer can be made.…”

“…A larger lean body mass and, thus, a greater muscle mass, could positively influence biomechanical values by enhancing the force applied in each upper limbs cycle and the capacity to maintain good SI under exhaustion conditions [ 67 ]. Positive associations between biceps circumference in contraction with breaststroke and front crawl performance were also found [ 47 ]. This variable is related to muscle mass, thus the higher it is the higher may be the strength of the upper limbs and, possibly, propulsion generation.…”