THE EFFECT OF PUBERTAL PHASE AND PHYSIQUE ON SWIMMING PERFORMANCE IN YOUNG ATHLETES

Abstract

Aim. This paper aims to identify the relationship between physique and swimming performance across different stroke styles in young male swimmers with respect to their pubertal phase. Materials and methods. Three groups of swimmers aged 11–15 years were identified based on their growth spurt phases: Group 1 – increasing growth intensity, Group 2 – maximum growth intensity, and Group 3 – decreasing growth intensity. Anthropometric measurements were performed for each participant, resulting in the calculation of anthropometric indices. Subsequently, the results obtained were correlated with performance in four swimming disciplines (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly). Results. Our analysis revealed significant correlations between anthropometric indices and swimming performance. In crawl swimming, strong correlations were found in Group 3 with Body Mass Index (r = 0.75), Ape Index (r = 0.77), and Pignet index (r = 0.73). In butterfly swimming, similar correlations were observed with relative shoulder width (r = 0.76), Ape index (r = 0.86), and Erisman index (r = 0.80). In breaststroke swimming, significant correlations were found with relative leg length (r = 0.78), Pignet index (r = 0.70), and relative shoulder width (r = 0.77). Conclusion. This study supports the significance of anthropometric measurements in determining swimming performance across various swimming styles. The results obtained indicate a pronounced tendency for these correlations to increase during Phase 3 of the growth spurt.