2026 Volume 11 Issue 2 Pages 149-157
To provide a pathway for athlete development, this study prospectively verified the changes in the physical characteristics of adolescent female swimmers who could participate in a national championship. Swimmers were classified into national competition (NC: n＝7, 12.62±2.13 y) and non-national groups (Other: n＝24, 12.14±1.24 y). Anthropometric (body compositions, body height, arm length, and chest circumference(CC) and physical fitness variables (medicine ball throwing (MBT), sit-up, vertical jump height (VJH), and flexibility of the body) were measured. World Aquatic Points calculate swimming performance as the personal best score (PBS). Two-way ANOVA (group×time) compared the groups’ differences. The amount of change (⊿) was calculated, and the predictors of PBS⊿ were analyzed by multiple regression. There was a significant interaction in CC (p＝0.022, η2＝0.168), with NC showing a significant increase after one year (p<0.001, cohen d＝-2.844). There was a significant main effect (group) in MBT (p＝0.010, η2＝0.208) and VJH (p＝0.008, η2＝0.220), with NC showing higher than Other. Moreover, CC⊿ was a predictor of PBS⊿ (β＝0.333±0.163, p＝0.041). These findings suggest that CC and higher general physical fitness are critical factors in athlete development for female swimmers.
