The Relationship Between Some Motoric and Anthropometric Measurements of 8–10-Year-Old Swimmers and 100 m Freestyle Swimming Time

Swimming is a sport that plays an important role in the development of physical and motor skills, especially in childhood. Understanding the relationship between anthropometric characteristics, motor measurements, and swimming performance in swimmers aged 8–10 years may be important for the development of swimmers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anthropometric characteristics and motor skills determined by measurements and 100-meter freestyle swimming time in swimmers aged 8–10 years. Twenty-two swimmers aged 8–10 years participated in the study. Body weight, height, 20 m sprint performance, agility test, standing long jump, flexibility, and anthropometric measurements (stroke, foot, leg length, arm length, shoulder, and thoracic circumference) were performed. Then, the relationship between these measurements and 100 m freestyle swimming time was analyzed. For data analysis, the normality test was applied to all parameters. Pearson Correlation Coefficient was used for normally distributed parameters. Spearman’s rank correlation was used for parameters that did not show normal distribution. The results of the study showed that there was a negative correlation between 100 m freestyle swimming time and height at medium strength, a negative correlation between leg length at high strength, and a negative correlation between stroke length at medium strength. The 100 m freestyle swimming time (seconds) was positively correlated with the 20 m sprint at medium strength and positively correlated with agility performance at medium strength. No statistically significant correlation was found between other parameters and 100 m freestyle swimming time. In conclusion, height, leg and stroke lengths, speed, and agility performances of 8–10 years old swimmers are related to 100 m freestyle swimming time. However, body weight, thoracic and shoulder circumference, foot length, flexibility, and long jump performance were not correlated with 100 m freestyle swimming time.

Cite this article as: Bal, E., Malkoç, N., Ercin, Ç. B., Pehlivan, Y. Y., & Aman, E. A. (2025). The relationship between some motoric and anthropometric measurements of 8–10-year-old swimmers and 100 m freestyle swimming time. Research in Sports Science, 15, 0040, doi:10.5152/rss.2025.24040.