Abstract:
Swimming is an Olympic sport which is a very popular endurance development activity
around the world. Anthropometry is one of the main factors that influences the
swimming performance of teenagers. This study aimed to examine the relationship
between selected anthropometric parameters and 50 m freestyle swimming time in
teenage swimmers. The sample was thirty (n=30) provincial level male swimmers aged
13-17 years. Their body weight, height and BMI were 35.0 - 96.5 Kg, 136.0 - 181.9 cm
and 21.81 Kgm−2 respectively. The dependent variable was 50 m freestyle swimming
time and the independent variable was anthropometric parameters viz. body weight,
height, length measurements (upper arm, lower arm, hand, upper leg, lower leg, foot,
arm span), circumference (chest, abdomen) and skinfold measurements (bicep girth,
triceps girth). Data were collected from 50 m freestyle swimming race and measuring
thirteen anthropometric parameter sites of the body. Stadiometer, digital weighing scale,
skinfold caliper, measuring tape and stop watch were used as measuring instruments.
Pearson correlation coefficient in SPSS (version 26.0) was applied to determine the
relationship between 50 m freestyle swimming time and anthropometric parameters
of sample swimmers at 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that the mean
values of swimming time, body weight and height were 39.9±7.30 seconds, 57.65±15.91
Kg and 162.56±9.74 cm respectively. The body weight (r=0.376, p=0.041), height
(r=0.375, p=0.041) and hand length (r=0.397, p=0.030) showed a significant positive
moderate correlation with 50 m freestyle swimming time. There was no significant
relationship between the 50 m freestyle swimming time with upper arm length, lower arm
length, upper leg length, lower leg length, foot length, arm span, chest and abdominal
circumference, bicep and triceps girth. The study concludes that the anthropometric
parameters influence the swimming time of the teenage male swimmers and they have
to manage their anthropometric parameters of the body related to the sport for improved
performance.
