Sex-based differences in front crawl and butterfly sprint performance in age-group swimmers
Issued Date
2025-01-01
Resource Type
eISSN
19326203
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105026323730
Pubmed ID
41460882
Journal Title
Plos One
Volume
20
Issue
12
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Plos One Vol.20 No.12 (2025) , e0339480
Suggested Citation
Matjiur R., Chainok P., Lauer J., Limroongreungrat W., de Jesus K., Zacca R., Fernandes R.J., Vilas-Boas J.P. Sex-based differences in front crawl and butterfly sprint performance in age-group swimmers. Plos One Vol.20 No.12 (2025) , e0339480. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0339480 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/113973
Title
Sex-based differences in front crawl and butterfly sprint performance in age-group swimmers
Author's Affiliation
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To identify the key variables influencing 50 m sprint performance in front crawl and butterfly strokes and determine the predominant predictors of sex-related performance differences in each technique in age-group swimmers. METHODS: Thirty national-level age-group swimmers (15 boys and 15 girls; age 13.5 ± 1.0 years) underwent assessments of anthropometry, biological maturation, neuromuscular performance (dynamic strength index of upper and lower limbs), anaerobic critical velocity, tethered swimming force, and stroke mechanics. RESULTS: Multivariate analyses revealed substantial sex differences (p < 0.05), with boys outperforming girls in upper-body force output and anaerobic critical velocity (AnCV). Boys showed a greater AnCV (1.54 vs. 1.45 m·s ⁻ ¹) and lower fatigue index (-8.52% in front crawl). Boys and girls had a 27.60 N front crawl force differential and 13.59 N butterfly force difference in the first 10 s of tethered swimming. Controlling for sex and biological maturity, the maximum explained variation (ƞ2) was found in front crawl tethered swimming force (47%), and butterfly lower limb neuromuscular performance (29%). In front crawl, total push-up peak force (diff: 215.44 N; 95% CI: 1.25 to 3.08; p < 0.001) and body height (diff: 0.08 cm; 95% CI: -1.82 to -0.28; p < 0.001) were key discriminators, while in butterfly, push-up force (diff: 215.44 N; 95% CI: 1.25 to 3.08; p < 0.001) and stroke index (diff: 0.54 m² ⋅ s ⁻ ¹; 95% CI: 1.04 to 2.79; p < 0.001) were the most effective predictors. CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm the predictive ability of upper-limb neuromuscular performance and stroke efficiency in identifying sex-based differences in sprint swimming. The practical implications of these findings are substantial, offering a framework for coaches and sports scientists to improve procedures for training by focusing on technique- and sex-specific performance characteristics at critical stages of athletic development.