Abstract

Specific qualities of competitive performance observed in different sports demand that athletes demonstrate definite special characteristics. Training and competitive performance provokes different adaptive changes within athletes’ organisms. There are some sports giving preference to tall athletes. However in the greater part of sports, remarkable results may be achieved also by medium-height or even short athletes. To compare the specific influence produced by separate sports on athletes’ organisms, it would be necessary to choose study groups involving athletes similar in terms of height characteristics. Study purpose was to examine specific characteristics of physical development, physical skills, and definite functions demonstrated by high performance athletes, very similar in their body height yet very different in terms of performed sport activity; and to carry out a corresponding comparative analysis. Our study involved 48 high performance athletes practicing different sports. All of them were either member candidates or full members of Lithuanian Olympic Team: kayakers and canoeists (k/c) (n = 12); skiers and biathletes (n = 12); cyclists (n = 12); and master team football players (n = 12). There was determined that body height and most other indices of physical development and capacity demonstrated by Lithuanian high performance athletes practicing different sports differ slightly. It was only kayakers and canoeists who surpassed others in their body built and muscle power which allowed them to get among the leading athletes of the world. It was found that athletes’ muscle mass was closely related to SMCP, AAMP, and high jump indices. Development of the mass of special muscles is one of the vital factors for the improvement of muscle power at short work. The study revealed problems existing in the area of selection and training of Lithuanian high performance athletes. This information may help elaborate further training of athletes. Data obtained from the examination of kayakers and canoeists may facilitate the process of drawing up model characteristics of physical development and capacity demonstrated by representatives of this particular sport. Aerobic capacity indices shown by groups under study varied greatly. It were the cyclists who demonstrated the highest values of oxygen consumption. In this respect cyclists surpassed not only skiers and biathletes also engaged in the development of aerobic capacity but also athletes from other study groups. Verf.-Referat