SWIMMERS SOMATOTYPE PROFILE

• Published in: Hrvatski športskomedicinski vjesnik 2011-01, Vol.26 (2), p.83-87
• Main Authors: Leko, G, Siljeg, K, Mikulic, P
• Format: Article
• Language: hrv ; eng
• ISSN: 0354-0766

The aim of this research was to determine the somatotype profiles of 14-16-year-old male swimmers as well to determine the relationship between various somatotype components, body mass index, body fat percentage and the sum of three skinfolds with 100-m swimming performance using all 4 swimming techniques. In that regard, 68 swimmers from swimming clubs in Zagreb were examined using 10 anthropometric measurements that were subsequently used to determine the somatotype according to the method proposed by Heath and Carter. The results point towards somewhat increased body fat percentage in comparison to swimming population. It was established that body fat percentage has a very weak relationship with swimming performance. On the contrary, body mass index exhibits the values in line with previous research. The somatotype of the examined swimmers indicates strong ectomorphic component while the endomorphic and messomorphic components are similar in their values. It was determined that the ectomorphic component is inversely related to swimming performance in all four techniques, while statistically significant positive relationship was observed between messomorphic components and 100-m butterfly swimming performance. The body mass index variable is significantly related to performance in all for techniques which can be attributed mainly to the muscle mass quantity because body fat percentage does not exhibit positive relationships. The results indicate that all swimmers evaluated in this research have not completed their pubertal development and that the significant positive relationship can be evident only in the messomorphic component which is characterized by larger muscle mass and butterfly technique which is the most demanding in terms of energy expenditure.