Abstract

The purpose of the present research is to define some anthropometric variables and body composition in a group of young athletes practising swimming at competition level. This can be useful to define the optimal physic characteristics correlating with the best athletic capability. Our results demonstrate that the males surpass the females for weight, height; on the contrary the females present the mean of skinfold thickness and body fat more elevated of that of the males. No significant changes were found in the time as for anthropometric variables as for body composition. The coefficient of correlation, very good and very significant, calculated between the mean of the skinfold thickness and the body fat demonstrates that the measure of the skinfold thickness can be indicative with a good approximation of the fat mass in either sex. Finally the coefficient of correlation between the mean of the difference circumference-skinfold thickness and the amount of the muscle, best and very significant for the males as to the females, show in the first a greater trend of the two variables to the association. Verf.-Referat