Original scientific paper

Natasha Meshkovska , Daniel Trbogazov 

https://doi.org/10.46733/PESH25142113m

Abstract

This paper investigates the anthropometric differences between adolescent swimmers and non-swimmers in different age categories (10–12, 13–16 and 17–19 years), in order to identify the effects of regular sports training on physical development. 140 subjects were included, divided equally into two groups: swimmers and non-swimmers. Six anthropometric parameters were evaluated: body height, body weight, arm span, seat height, foot length and body mass index (BMI).The results show that adolescent swimmers have greater values of parameters such as arm span and foot length, especially in older categories, which reflects specific physical adaptations to swimming. Also, swimmers maintain a healthy body mass index, suggesting a positive impact of regular training. The differences become more pronounced with age, emphasizing the importance of sports training for the optimization of physical development. These findings provide important guidelines for sports selection, creating individualized training programs and supporting the healthy development of young athletes. Future research should expand the understanding of the long-term effects of sports training on the physical and psychological characteristics of youth.

Key words: swimming, anthropometric characteristics, adolescents, physical development, sports training.

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