Purpose: To detect the association between elite swimmers' performance and anthropometric characteristics in Taiwan. Materials and Methods: Subjects included thirty-two males (10 international swimmers and 22 national swimmers) and eighteen females (6 international swimmers and 12 national swimmers) in 18-24y elite swimmers. The average age of males and females are 20.5±1.5 and 19.8±1.34, respectively. A number of physical measurements were taken included length, width, and circumference. Results: There were no significant differences between elite swimmers and general population in midpoint of kneecap height in males, sitting height in both females and males, but the other variables were significantly higher than models of general population (p<.05). In both males and females, variables of hand size, body index, ratio of acromion to dactylion length and height, span minus height, and vertical reach minus height were significantly higher than common people. Ratio of buttock to knee length and midpoint of kneecap height were significantly higher than common people in males (p<.05). International swimmers were significantly higher than nationals in height, span, vertical reach, acromion to dactylion length, buttock to knee length, and midpoint of kneecap height. Conclusion: Elite swimmers are really different to some extent with general population on the body index, can be in one of the important reference bases that the swimmer selects suitable materials as the coach, reach better result in training.
Purpose: To detect the association between elite swimmers' performance and anthropometric characteristics in Taiwan. Materials and Methods: Subjects included thirty-two males (10 international swimmers and 22 national swimmers) and eighteen females (6 international swimmers and 12 national swimmers) in 18-24y elite swimmers. The average age of males and females are 20.5±1.5 and 19.8±1.34, respectively. A number of physical measurements were taken included length, width, and circumference. Results: There were no significant differences between elite swimmers and general population in midpoint of kneecap height in males, sitting height in both females and males, but the other variables were significantly higher than models of general population (p<.05). In both males and females, variables of hand size, body index, ratio of acromion to dactylion length and height, span minus height, and vertical reach minus height were significantly higher than common people. Ratio of buttock to knee length and midpoint of kneecap height were significantly higher than common people in males (p<.05). International swimmers were significantly higher than nationals in height, span, vertical reach, acromion to dactylion length, buttock to knee length, and midpoint of kneecap height. Conclusion: Elite swimmers are really different to some extent with general population on the body index, can be in one of the important reference bases that the swimmer selects suitable materials as the coach, reach better result in training.