Predicting sprint performance of front-crawl swimming in young swimmers with an emphasis on biomechanical, muscle architectural and anthropometrical factors

Youth swimming performance may be influenced by anthropometric, physiology, and biomechanical factors. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationships between 50-m front-crawl swimming performance and relevant anthropometrical (body height, body mass, body mass index, arm span, shoulders width, thigh, leg and upper arm lengths), muscle architectural (muscle thickness, pennation angle, and fascicle length) and biomechanical (stroke rate, stroke length, and stroke index) parameters in male young swimmers, with 13.86±0.86 years of age (n = 23). Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the variance of the 50 meters front-crawl. Results indicate that stroke index, muscle thickness of Vastus Lateralis, and stroke length explained %89 (p < .01) of 50-m front-crawl swimming performance variability in these young male swimmers, and stroke index was the best single predictor of swimming performance (R2=0.519, p<0.001). To conclude, performance of young male swimmers in the 50 meters front-crawl is determined predominantly by biomechanical and muscle architectural factors, and must be considered when predicting success in young swimmers