Abstract

On the basis of previous studies and analysis of new data, the following findings summarize present knowledge about the somatotypes of female athletes:(1) Top class female athletes in most sports are more mesomorphic and less endomorphic than non-athletes. (2) Somatotypes of female athletes from the 1968 and 1976 Olympics are similar in some sports but there are possible differences in track sprinting, canoeing, and gymnastics. (3) Quite different somatotypes appear necessary for success in some sports. (4) Somatotype means for different sports and events have a wide range along or near the ectomor- phic axis of the somatochart. (5) Means for a large number of sports and events are in the somatochart area bounded by somatotypes 4-4-3, 3-4-3, 2-4-4,and 3-3-3. (6) Successful young female athletes have somatotypes similar to, or approaching, those of older athletes in most sports. (7) Somatotype patterns for athletes of different sports within a country appear similar to those of other countries. (8) Female athletes are less mesomorphic and more endomorphic than males in most sports. (9) Sexual dimorphism between mean somatotypes for athletes in the same sport is similar to that of non-athletes. Verf.-Referat (gekuerzt)