The influence of certain motor abilities on swimming speed

Nejla Graho, Alena Ćemalović

The aim of the research was to determine the influence of selected motor abilities (strength and flexibility) within the anthropological status on swimming speed in the 50m freestyle event in swimmers with long-term training experience. The testing was conducted on a sample of 15 swimmers who are in a regular training cycle. Within the available capacities of equipment and time, the motor abilities of strength and flexibility and their influence on swimming speed in the 50m freestyle event were tested. The variables used were the maximum number of push-ups in 30 seconds, the maximum number of sit-ups in 30 seconds, the long jump, the shoulder flexibility test (stick twist), and the deep forward bend. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that repetitive strength (maximum number of sit-ups in 30 seconds) showed a statistically significant influence on the 50m freestyle swimming result, while the individual contributions of the other variables were not statistically significant when controlling for the influence of other variables in this model. More specifically, their additional contribution, after the influence of sit-ups and other variables was already taken into account, did not reach the threshold of statistical significance in that specific model and sample. This does not mean that they have no influence on swimming, but that in this specific context of the regression model, their unique contribution is not statistically significant.