Physiological characteristics of young well-trained swimmers.

The purpose of this study was to describe body composition, muscular strength, pulmonary function, and aerobic capacity of young swimmers, after 6 years of training. Twelve male members of a competitive swim team, ranging in age for 13 to 16 years, served as subjects. Each subject was measured on 2 separate days at approximately the same time of day on each occasion. On day one, body composition, muscular strength, TLC, FVC, FEV1.0, FRC, RV, and resting DLc0 were determined. On day 2, height, weight, VE max Hr max, and VO2 max were measured. Results indicated that children who train to swim competitively: (1) are lower than average in percent body fat (10.8%) as determined by hydrostatic weighing, (2) are muscularly fit as indicated by the Oregon Cable-Tension Strength Test, and (3) have cardiorespiratory capacities which are greater than one would expect to see in untrained youth of similar ages.