Pereira, A. F., Marques, M. C., Louro, H., Costa, A. M., Silva, A. J., Reis, V. M., & Marinho, D. A. (June 03, 2010). The relationship of anthropometrical characteristics and performance in junior international level swimmers. Presentation 2223 at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; June 2-5.

This study analyzed the relationship between anthropometrical characteristics and the performance of junior international level swimmers (M = 11; F = 16). Ss were members of the Junior National Team of their country and participated regularly in international events. Anthropometrical characteristics evaluated were: height, seating height, body mass, span, body mass index, fat mass, bideltoid and torso-sagital diameters, body surface area, frontal surface area, hand length and width, hand area, hand index, foot length and width, foot area, and foot index. The personal best performance in long course events of the swimmers was converted into FINA points. This score was related to the anthropometrical data.

Significant correlations were found between performance and 1) body mass (r = 0.43), 2) height (r = 0.60), 3) span (r = 0.60), 4) body surface area (r = 0.52), 5) frontal surface area (r = 0.51), 6) seating height (r = 0.51), 7) bideltoid diameter (r = 0.45), 8) hand width (r = 0.49), 9) hand area (r = 0.52), 10) foot length (r = 0.57), 11) foot width (r = 0.62), and 12) foot area (r = 0.52). No significant correlations were observed between performance and torso-sagital diameter, fat mass, hand length, body mass index, and hand and foot indexes.

Implication. In elite junior swimmers, performance is modestly related to some anthropometrical characteristics. Essentially, the bigger swimmers are more likely to be favored for higher performances in the sport.

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