Key Anthropometric Variables Associated With Front-Crawl Swimming Performance in Youth Swimmers: An Allometric Approach

• Published in: Journal of strength and conditioning research Vol. 37; no. 6; p. 1259
• Main Authors: Sammoud, Senda, Negra, Yassine, Chaabene, Helmi, Bouguezzi, Raja, Attia, Ahmed, Granacher, Urs, Younes, Hachana, Nevill, Alan M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.06.2023
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anthropometry; Athletic Performance; Biomechanical Phenomena; Body Height; Body Size; Child; Female; Humans; Male; Swimming; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1064-8011; 1533-4287
• DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003491

Sammoud, S, Negra, Y, Chaabene, H, Bouguezzi, R, Attia, A, Granacher, U, Younes, H, and Nevill, AM. Key anthropometric variables associated with front-crawl swimming performance in youth swimmers: an allometric approach. J Strength Cond Res 37(6): 1259-1263, 2023-This study aimed to establish key anthropometric characteristics (e.g., optimal body height, limb-segment length, and girth/breadth ratios) related to 100-m front-crawl performance in young swimmers. In total, 74 swimmers (boys [ n = 41; age: 18.1 ± 3.5 years]; girls [ n = 33; age: 15.9 ± 3.1 years]) participated in this study. We adopted a multiplicative allometric log-linear regression model to identify key anthropometric characteristics associated with 100-m front-crawl swimming performance. The main outcomes indicated that length ratio = ([height/leg length]), foot length and ankle girth, biacromial breadth, and % of body fat were associated with 100-m front-crawl mean swimming speed performance. These findings highlight the importance of assessing anthropometric characteristics in young front-crawl swimmers for talent identification and development.