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Samanipour MH, Mohammadian S, Del Coso J, Salehian O, Jeddi FK, Khosravi M, González-Ravé JM, Ceylan Hİ, Liu H, Abou Sawan S, Jäger R. Body Composition and Dietary Intake Profiles of Elite Iranian Swimmers and Water Polo Athletes. Nutrients 2024; 16:2393. [PMID: 39125274 PMCID: PMC11313993 DOI: 10.3390/nu16152393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2024] [Revised: 07/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to conduct a detailed and comparative analysis of body composition and dietary habits in elite swimming and water polo athletes. Through the examination of these key parameters, this study seeks to compare the dietary intake of these two distinct aquatic sports disciplines. METHODS A total of 10 top-level swimmers and 13 water polo athletes participated in anthropometric and body composition assessments, as well as a detailed analysis of nutritional intake. To compare the two groups, an independent samples t-test was used, and variance homogeneity was checked using Levene's test. The effect size of the group differences was evaluated using Hedges' g. RESULTS Water polo athletes showed significantly greater height (189.4 ± 2.9 vs. 186.5 ± 2.0 cm, p = 0.013), body mass index (24.3 ± 1.4 vs. 22.1 ± 0.5 kg/m2, p < 0.001), fat-free mass (62.9 ± 1.4 vs. 61.1 ± 1.38 kg, p < 0.001), skeletal muscle mass (47.1 ± 1.3 vs. 43.9 ± 1.6 kg, p < 0.001), and overall weight (86.9 ± 6.9 vs. 76.7 ± 2.2 kg, p < 0.001) in comparison to swimmers. Swimmers consumed greater amounts of mean daily energy (60.0 ± 1.0 vs. 39.0 ± 1.0 kcal/kg, p < 0.001), carbohydrate (7.8 ± 0.3 vs. 4.4 ± 0.5 g/kg, p < 0.001), protein (1.7 ± 0.5 vs. 1.4 ± 0.5 g/kg, p < 0.001), and fat (2.4 ± 0.5 vs. 1.7 ± 0.5 g/kg, p < 0.001) compared to water polo athletes. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the need for differentiated targeted nutritional interventions to enhance athletic performance in different types of water sports. Compared to water polo athletes, swimmers consumed significantly higher amounts of calories, matching their increased calorie demand from their specific training regime. However, this is an observational study and the differential needs of energy and macronutrients in water sports should be confirmed by studies with energy expenditure measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shahzad Mohammadian
- Department of Sport Nutrition, National Paralympic Committee (NPC), Tehran 19956-13114, Iran
| | - Juan Del Coso
- Centre for Sport Studies, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Omid Salehian
- Department of Sport Nutrition and Fitness, Applied and Science University, Tehran 13114-16846, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Khodakhah Jeddi
- Research Center Faculty of Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz 51656-87386, Iran
| | - Mehdi Khosravi
- Department of Human Sciences, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran 14778-93855, Iran
| | - José M. González-Ravé
- Sports Training Laboratory, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Castilla La Mancha, 13071 Toledo, Spain;
| | - Halil İbrahim Ceylan
- Physical Education and Sports Teaching Department, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Atatürk University, 25030 Erzurum, Turkey;
| | - Hongyou Liu
- School of Physical Education & Sports Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China;
| | | | - Ralf Jäger
- Increnovo LLC, Whitefish Bay, WI 53217, USA
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Allinger J, Noulhiane M, Féménias D, Louvet B, Clua E, Bouyeure A, Lemaître F. Risk profiles of elite breath-hold divers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38899970 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2024.2368718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to determine a typical profile of elite breath-hold divers (BHDs), in relation to loss of consciousness (LOC) and episodic memory. Forty-four BHDs were evaluated during a world championship with anthropometric and physiological measurements, psychosociological factors and memory assessment. Seventy-five percent of the BHDs had at least one LOC with the predominance being men (p < 0.05). Thirty six percent of BHDs presented a low-risk profile and 64% a high-risk profile with no particular psychological pattern. Stepwise multiple linear regression showed that body fat, years of BH practice, age and forced vital capacity explained a significant amount of the variance of LOC for all BHDs (F(4,39) = 16.03, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.622, R2Adjusted = 0.583). No correlation was found between resting physiological parameters and their training or depth performances. In conclusion, anthropometric data, pulmonary factors and breath-holding experience were predictive of LOC in elite BHDs, with men taking more risks. BHDs episodic memory was not impaired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémie Allinger
- CETAPS EA 3832 Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Rouen, Rouen, France
- CEA-NeuroSpin UNIACT-Université Paris Saclay & Inserm U1181-InDev, Université Paris City, Paris, France
| | - Marion Noulhiane
- CEA-NeuroSpin UNIACT-Université Paris Saclay & Inserm U1181-InDev, Université Paris City, Paris, France
| | - Damien Féménias
- CETAPS EA 3832 Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Rouen, Rouen, France
| | - Benoit Louvet
- CETAPS EA 3832 Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Rouen, Rouen, France
| | - Eric Clua
- CRIOBE UAR 3278, CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Moorea, Polynésie Française
| | - Antoine Bouyeure
- CEA-NeuroSpin UNIACT-Université Paris Saclay & Inserm U1181-InDev, Université Paris City, Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Lemaître
- CETAPS EA 3832 Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Rouen, Rouen, France
- CRIOBE UAR 3278, CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Moorea, Polynésie Française
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Espada MC, Ferreira CC, Gamonales JM, Hernández-Beltrán V, Massini DA, Macedo AG, Almeida TAF, Castro EA, Pessôa Filho DM. Body Composition Relationship to Performance, Cardiorespiratory Profile, and Tether Force in Youth Trained Swimmers. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1806. [PMID: 37763210 PMCID: PMC10532630 DOI: 10.3390/life13091806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This study sought to analyze the relationship between regional body composition, swimming performance, and aerobic and force profile determined through tethered swimming in well-trained swimmers. Eleven male and five female swimmers were involved in the study and underwent the following evaluations: (1) body composition, assessed by the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry method (DXA); (2) swimming performance, determined for 200, 400, 800, and 1.500 m front-crawl swimming; (3) a tethered swimming force test to determine maximum and mean force (Fmax and Fmean); and (4) an incremental tethered swimming test for the aerobic profile determination of the swimmers. Oxygen uptake (VO2) was directly measured by an automatic and portable system (K4b2 Cosmed, Italy). The fat-free mass (lean mass + bone mineral content, LM+BMC) in lower and upper limbs (UL_LM+BMC: 6.74 ± 1.57 kg and LL_LM+BMC: 20.15 ± 3.84 kg) positively correlated with all indexes of aerobic conditioning level, showing higher coefficients to the indexes representing the ability to perform at high aerobic intensities (VO2max: 49.2 ± 5.9 mL·kg-1·min-1 and respiratory compensation point (RCP): 43.8 ± 6.0 mL·kg-1·min-1), which attained 0.82 and 0.81 (with VO2max), 0.81 and 0.80 (with RCP). The S200 (1.48 ± 0.13 m·s-1) was significantly correlated to Trunk_LM+BMC (r = 0.74), UL_LM+BMC (r = 0.72), Total_LM+BMC (r = 0.71), and LL_LM+BMC (r = 0.64). This study highlights that regional body composition plays an important role in swimming, and body segment analysis should be considered instead of the total body. Tethered swimming may represent a useful method for force and aerobic assessment, aiming at training control and performance enhancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mário C. Espada
- Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Escola Superior de Educação, 2914-504 Setúbal, Portugal;
- Life Quality Research Centre (CIEQV), Complexo Andaluz, Apartado, 2040-413 Rio Maior, Portugal
- Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance (CIPER), Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, 1499-002 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Cátia C. Ferreira
- Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Escola Superior de Educação, 2914-504 Setúbal, Portugal;
- Research Group in Optimization of Training and Performance Sports (GOERD), Faculty of Sport Science, University of Extremadura, 10005 Cáceres, Spain; (J.M.G.); (V.H.-B.)
| | - José M. Gamonales
- Research Group in Optimization of Training and Performance Sports (GOERD), Faculty of Sport Science, University of Extremadura, 10005 Cáceres, Spain; (J.M.G.); (V.H.-B.)
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Madrid, Spain
| | - Víctor Hernández-Beltrán
- Research Group in Optimization of Training and Performance Sports (GOERD), Faculty of Sport Science, University of Extremadura, 10005 Cáceres, Spain; (J.M.G.); (V.H.-B.)
| | - Danilo A. Massini
- Department of Physical Education, School of Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Bauru 17033-360, Brazil; (D.A.M.); (A.G.M.); (T.A.F.A.); (E.A.C.); (D.M.P.F.)
- Postgraduate Program in Human Development and Technology, Biological Institute (IB), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro 13500-000, Brazil
| | - Anderson G. Macedo
- Department of Physical Education, School of Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Bauru 17033-360, Brazil; (D.A.M.); (A.G.M.); (T.A.F.A.); (E.A.C.); (D.M.P.F.)
- Postgraduate Program in Human Development and Technology, Biological Institute (IB), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro 13500-000, Brazil
| | - Tiago A. F. Almeida
- Department of Physical Education, School of Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Bauru 17033-360, Brazil; (D.A.M.); (A.G.M.); (T.A.F.A.); (E.A.C.); (D.M.P.F.)
- Postgraduate Program in Human Development and Technology, Biological Institute (IB), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro 13500-000, Brazil
| | - Eliane A. Castro
- Department of Physical Education, School of Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Bauru 17033-360, Brazil; (D.A.M.); (A.G.M.); (T.A.F.A.); (E.A.C.); (D.M.P.F.)
- Postgraduate Program in Human Development and Technology, Biological Institute (IB), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro 13500-000, Brazil
- Laboratory of Exercise Physiology Research Group (LFE—Research Group), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Dalton M. Pessôa Filho
- Department of Physical Education, School of Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Bauru 17033-360, Brazil; (D.A.M.); (A.G.M.); (T.A.F.A.); (E.A.C.); (D.M.P.F.)
- Postgraduate Program in Human Development and Technology, Biological Institute (IB), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro 13500-000, Brazil
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Fritz P, Fritz R, Mayer L, Németh B, Ressinka J, Ács P, Oláh C. Hungarian male water polo players' body composition can predict specific playing positions and highlight different nutritional needs for optimal sports performance. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 2022; 14:165. [PMID: 36064634 PMCID: PMC9447334 DOI: 10.1186/s13102-022-00560-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Background Water polo is unique among aquatic—and generally other—sports as it includes cyclic elements typical in swimming and acyclic elements occurring mainly in ball games. Moreover, water polo demands high level of technical and tactical skills. Players need an optimal nutritional and physical condition to achieve high athletic performance, which is to a great extend influenced by nutritional habits. We aim to highlight possible shortfalls in players’ nutritional intake in relation to positions played within the team. Methods In the present study, we determined the anthropometric and body composition characteristics, dietary habits and laboratory parameters of elite adult male water polo players (n = 19) before the start of the championship and at the end of the regular season, which meant a 4-month intervention period. Analyses of body composition characteristics and nutritional habits were performed using bioimpedance analyzer InBody 770 and a 3-day nutrition diary, respectively. Paired-sample t-test were used to determine the differences between the variables measured before and after the championship. Correlations between the anthropometric and body composition characteristics and different serum parameters were analyzed using linear correlation calculation. K-mean cluster analysis was performed using the anthropometric and body composition characteristics of the athletes. Results Based on anthropometric and body composition characteristics, players can be divided into two significantly different clusters that shows an association with specific playing positions. Cluster I included goalkeepers and wing players, while defenders, centers, and shooters belonged to Cluster II. We observed significant differences in the physical composition and slight but not significant differences in nutritional habits of the clusters. Cluster I players were 5 cm shorter on average, while their mean body weight, skeletal muscle mass and body fat mass data were lower by 19 kg, 7 kg, and 7 kg, respectively. We studied the correlation between initial anthropometric and body composition parameters and the changes in laboratory parameters before and after the regular season. As a result, we detected numerous significant differences between the two clusters, such as the changes in glucose and magnesium levels, which showed a strong correlation with several body composition parameters in cluster II, but did not in cluster I. Conclusions Cluster differences between anthropometric and body compositional characteristics, and the changes in laboratory parameters can help to develop position-specific training and nutritional recommendations in the future. Therefore, the results may be applicable in sport sciences for elite athletes and sports coaches. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13102-022-00560-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Péter Fritz
- Faculty of Health Science, University of Miskolc, Miskolc-Egyetemváros, Building Stefánia, Miskolc, 3515, Hungary.
| | - Réka Fritz
- Doctoral School of Clinical Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | | | | | | | - Pongrác Ács
- Institute of Physiotherapy and Sport Science, University of Pécs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Csilla Oláh
- Superfoods Ltd, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Urology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Olympic Cycle Comparison of the Nutritional and Cardiovascular Health Status of an Elite-Level Female Swimmer: Case Study Report from Slovenia. Sports (Basel) 2022; 10:sports10050063. [PMID: 35622472 PMCID: PMC9143311 DOI: 10.3390/sports10050063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Monitoring the many aspects that are crucial to an athlete’s performance progress is vital for further training planning and for the development of performance and the sport. We evaluated a four-year change (2018 vs. 2022) in the current nutritional and cardiovascular health status of the most successful elite-level female swimmer in Slovenia. Body composition and dietary intake were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and a standardized food questionnaire. The concentration of blood lipids, blood pressure, and serum micronutrients (B12, 25(OH)D), potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron) were measured. The four-year comparison showed an improved body composition status (i.e., increased body mass and decreased body fat (percentage and mass), increased lean soft tissue and total bone mineral density (BMD) (i.e., significantly decreased BMD of a left femoral neck and increased BMD of a spine and head)). We also measured an improvement in the cardiovascular health status of some markers (i.e., decreased total cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure but increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), most likely due to the differences in assessed dietary intake (i.e., lower carbohydrate intake, higher total and saturated fat intake, and lower sodium intake). Notably, nutrient intakes that are generally of concern (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), vitamin B12 and D, calcium, iron, and zinc (except for fiber intake)) were all within recommended ranges. However, the athlete’s vitamin K and potassium intake were not adequate. Furthermore, in 2018, the athlete did not consume dietary supplements, while she now regularly uses several dietary supplements, including EPA and DHA omega-3, vitamin D, multivitamins, carbohydrate powder, and sports drink. Moreover, from the micronutrient serum, only iron levels deviated from the reference values (37 μmol/L vs. 10.7–28.6 μmol/L). The presented screening example using valid, sensitive, and affordable methods and with rapid organizational implementation may be a viable format for regular monitoring.
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Lara B, Aguilar-Navarro M, Salinero JJ, Muñoz-Guerra J, Del Mar Plata M, Del Coso J. Study of frequency and type of adverse analytical findings in the different disciplines of aquatics. Bioanalysis 2021; 13:1467-1476. [PMID: 34617450 DOI: 10.4155/bio-2021-0097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We aimed to analyze the number and distribution of doping control tests in which a banned substance was reported (i.e., adverse analytical finding) in aquatics. The analysis was performed by using the data provided by the WADA Testing Figure Reports from 2015 to 2019. A total of 79,956 doping control tests were analyzed. Sprint swimming, middle-distance swimming and water polo were the disciplines with the highest number of doping control tests. However, there were no differences in the frequency of adverse findings among disciplines (overall, ∼0.56%, from 0.13 in artistic swimming to 0.76% in sprint swimming). Sprinters and long-distance swimmers presented a higher frequency of beta-2-agonists than the remaining aquatic disciplines (p < 0.05). These results indicate that the type of prohibited substances employed is strongly influenced by the intrinsic characteristics of each aquatic discipline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Lara
- Camilo José Cela University, Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Madrid, 28692, Spain
| | - Millán Aguilar-Navarro
- Francisco de Vitoria University, Exercise & Sport Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Madrid, 28223, Spain
| | - Juan José Salinero
- Camilo José Cela University, Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Madrid, 28692, Spain
| | - Jesús Muñoz-Guerra
- Department for Doping Control, Spanish Agency for Health Protection in Sport, Madrid, 28016, Spain
| | - María Del Mar Plata
- Department of Education, Spanish Agency for Health Protection in Sport, Madrid, 28016, Spain
| | - Juan Del Coso
- Rey Juan Carlos University, Centre for Sport Studies, Madrid, 28943, Spain
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Knechtle B, Barkai R, Hill L, Nikolaidis PT, Rosemann T, Sousa CV. Influence of Anthropometric Characteristics on Ice Swimming Performance-The IISA Ice Mile and Ice Km. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18136766. [PMID: 34202426 PMCID: PMC8297229 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18136766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Ice swimming following the rules of IISA (International Ice Swimming Association) is a recent sports discipline starting in 2009. Since then, hundreds of athletes have completed an Ice Mile or an Ice Km in water colder than 5 °C. This study aimed to expand our knowledge about swimmers completing an Ice Mile or an Ice Km regarding the influence of anthropometric characteristics (i.e., body mass, body height, and body mass index, BMI) on performance. We analyzed data from 957 swimmers in the Ice Km (590 men and 367 women) and 585 swimmers in the Ice Mile (334 men and 251 women). No differences were found for anthropometric characteristics between swimmers completing an Ice Mile and an Ice Km although water temperatures and wind chill were lower in the Ice Km than in the Ice Mile. Men were faster than women in both the Ice Mile and Ice Km. Swimming speed decreased significantly with increasing age, body mass, and BMI in both women and men in both the Ice Mile and Ice Km. Body height was positively correlated to swimming speed in women in the Ice Km. Air temperature was significantly and negatively related to swimming speed in the Ice Km but not in the Ice Mile. Water temperature was not associated with swimming speed in men in both the Ice Mile and Ice Km but significantly and negatively in women in Ice Km. In summary, swimmers intending to complete an Ice Mile or an Ice Km do not need to have a high body mass and/or a high BMI to swim these distances fast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beat Knechtle
- Institute of Primary Care, University Hospital Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland;
- Medbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, 9000 St. Gallen, Switzerland
- Correspondence:
| | - Ram Barkai
- International Ice Swimming Association (IISA), 7798 Cape Town, South Africa;
| | - Lee Hill
- Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada;
| | - Pantelis T. Nikolaidis
- School of Health and Caring Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Egaleo, Greece;
- Laboratory of Exercise Testing, Hellenic Air Force Academy, 13671 Acharnes, Greece
| | - Thomas Rosemann
- Institute of Primary Care, University Hospital Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Caio Victor Sousa
- Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
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Performance of high-level Spanish athletes in the Olympic Games according to gender. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0251267. [PMID: 33956856 PMCID: PMC8101945 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
No studies have been found that analyzed the probabilities of high-level athletes according to gender for accessing programs that promote the professionalization of sports, and participation and success in the OG in Spain. This could explain the gender differences in these parameters and the trend towards more egalitarian data in recent years. The objective of this study was to analyze the probabilities of Spanish high-level athletes for participating and achieving sporting success in the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games (OG). Data relating to a sample of 3757 high-level Spanish athletes (2398 men and 1359 women) between 2005 and 2016 were examined. The variables of gender, having obtained a scholarship from the Association of Olympic Athletes (ADO) program, training in a High Performance Center (CAR), participation and performance in the OG were analyzed. It was found that high-level female athletes were more likely than male athletes to belong to the ADO program (χ2 = 26,151; r* = 0.083; p = 0,000) and CAR (χ2 = 13,847; r* = 0.061; p = 0,000), and to qualify for an OG (χ2 = 22,838; r* = 0,078; p = 0,000), the same trend was found in the three Olympic cycles analyzed. With respect to the results in the OG, in general, no differences were found according to gender, although women were more likely to be finalists (χ2 = 4,406; r* = 0.071; p = 0,036), and more prominently in the 2016 OG (16.118; r* = 0.228; p = 0.000). The same applies to winning a medal (χ2 = 5.939; r* = 0.145; p = 0.015), more specifically bronze at the 2012 OG (χ2 = 6.215; r* = 0.149; p = 0.013). In conclusion, high-level female athletes in Spain have a higher percentage of access to high-level athlete support programs such as ADO and CAR, as well as participation in OG.
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