Aim. To determinate the influence of body composition and fitness in adolescents 50 meter performance in freestyle swimming.
Methods. This study was developed under the RENACIMIENTO project. 82 adolescent swimmers [46 males (15.1 ± 2.0 years) and 36 females (13.4 ± 2.0 years)] participated in the study. Height was recorded using a stadiometer (SECA 225, SECA, Hamburg, Germany). For weight measurement and estimation of fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (MG), a bioelectrical impedance device (Tanita Corp., Tokyo, Japan TANITA BC-418 MA) was used. Fitness related variables were assessed with the following tests: strength through isometric force crawl (IFC), handgrip (HG), isometric knee extension (KE) and standing broad jump (SBD). Velocity was assessed with the 30 meters running test (V30 M) and cardiorespiratory fitness by Course-Navette. Gender differences were analyzed by Student t test for independent samples. The correlation between personal best time 50 meters (T50 M) and the other variables was studied through age adjusted partial correlations. The variables that correlated to performance were examined using multiple stepwise linear regression models, separately for each gender.
Results. Males showed higher values for weight, height, KE, HG, ICF, SBJ and lower values for V30m and T50 M than females (p < 0,05). For males, height and SBJ (Semip. Corr: 0,371- 0,395; p < 0,05) were determinant variables for performance, while for females V30m and SBJ were determinant to performance (Semip. Corr: 0,390- 0,415; p < 0,05).
Conclusions. Some aspects of anthropometry and fitness are closely related to swimming performance in short distances during adolescence. The only predictive variable common to both genders was standing broad jump, that has a close relation with the type of muscle fiber, suggesting that in short distances physiological factors could be determinant for performance in this age although other variables such as technique or psychological factors may also influence.
Corresponding author. emainer13@gmail.com
