Determination of body types and profiles of swimmers between the ages of 11 and 12 according to their swimming styles

This study aims to compare and contrast the body builds of 11-12 year-old swimmers who have competed in their own styles by determining their body builds and profiles applying 4 different styles and by analysing their body builds in respect to those styles. The research group is formed of female (n=164) and male (n=136) volunteer swimmers who train at least 3 times a week regularly, who have competed in Turkish Championships with a certain swimming style and who are at 11-12 year-old category. Their muscle, fat rate, body mass index and somatotype profiles were calculated by getting their anthropometric and subcutaneous measurements. Shapiro-Wilk Normality Test was applied. As the data showed normal distribution, Independent-Samples T-Test, one of the parametric tests, was used. Statistical significance level was accepted as p<0,05. In our study, height average of female swimmers were determined as follows; freestyle 1,52 ±,05 cm, backstroke 1,54±,07 cm, breaststroke 1,52±,07 cm, butterfly 1,50 ±,07 cm. As to their weight average, the results were determined as follows; freestyle 45,5±8,5 kg, backstroke 46,3±9,3 kg, butterfly 42,16±8,0 kg, breaststroke 42,9±8 kg. The average height of male swimmers was found as follows; freestyle 1,51±,06 cm, backstroke 1,53±,06 cm, breaststroke 1,50±,05 cm, butterfly 1,50±,07cm. As to their weight average, the results were determined as follows; freestyle 43,4±7,6 kg, backstroke 44,1±7,0 kg, breaststroke 39,8±5,3 kg and butterfly 42,4±7,9 kg. In both groups, no significant difference was detected among height, weight and body mass index data (p>0.05). The somatotype profiles of the female swimmers were found as written; freestyle (3,5-3,0-2,9), backstroke (3,1-2,9-3,1), butterfly (3,0-2,6-3,1) and breaststroke (3,0-2,6-3,1). As to male swimmers' somatotype profiles, the results were calculated as written; freestyle (3,0-3,5-2,9), backstroke (2,9-3,3-3,4), butterfly (2,7-3,7-3,1) and breaststroke (2,6-3,1-3,7). When their anthropometric measurements were examined in terms of different swimming styles, a significant difference was detected in pelvis size, handbreadth and foot length considering their body compositions. Likewise, there was also a significant difference in their % fat rate and mesomorphy in their somatotype profiles (p<0.05). However, it was seen that there was no other significant difference in other parameters between the groups. Consequently, the anthropometric features of 12-13 year old swimmers were examined considering the gender variable and it was observed that pelvis size is bigger and fat rate is more in females than males. It is thought that this difference between females and males may be connected with the earlier enterance of girls to puberty. Key Words Swimming, Swimming Styles, Anthropometry, Somatotype, Male, Female.