The identification of talented young swimmers is a major focus in sports science, with increasing attention being directed toward biomechanical and technical indicators associated with future performance. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the available evidence regarding biomechanical and technical factors related to swimming performance and talent identification in young competitive swimmers. A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases following PRISMA guidelines. Eleven studies published between 2007 and 2023 met the inclusion criteria. The findings consistently demonstrated that higher-performing young swimmers exhibited superior biomechanical profiles characterized by higher stroke index, optimal combinations of stroke frequency and stroke length, greater swimming velocity, lower velocity fluctuations, and enhanced propulsive efficiency. Among these variables, stroke index emerged as the most consistent predictor of swimming performance and potential future success. Longitudinal studies further emphasized the importance of monitoring the development of these characteristics throughout growth and maturation. Overall, the evidence suggests that biomechanical and technical indicators should complement competition outcomes in talent identification programs and may provide valuable information for supporting long-term athlete development in youth swimming.
Barbosa, T., Costa, M., Marinho, D., Coelho, J., Moreira, M., & Silva, A. (2010). Modeling Exercise and Quality of Life Journal: Advance. https://doi.org/10.31382/20261205
Barbosa, T. M., Costa, M., Marinho, D. A., Coelho, J., Moreira, M., & Silva, A. J. (2010). Modeling the Links Between Young Swimmers’ Performance: Energetic and Biomechanic Profiles. Pediatric Exercise Science, 22(3), 379–391. https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.22.3.379
Barbosa, T. M., Morais, J. E., Costa, M. J., Goncalves, J., Marinho, D. A., & Silva, A. J. (2014). Young Swimmers’ Classification Based on Kinematics, Hydrodynamics, and Anthropometrics. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 30(2), 310–315. https://doi.org/10.1123/jab.2013-0038
Barbosa, T. M., Bartolomeu, R., Morais, J. E., & Costa, M. J. (2019). Skillful Swimming in Age-Groups Is Determined by Anthropometrics, Biomechanics and Energetics. Frontiers in Physiology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.00073
Blume, K., & Wolfarth, B. (2019). Identification of Potential Performance-Related Predictors in Young Competitive Athletes. Frontiers in Physiology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01394
Figueiredo, P., Silva, A., Sampaio, A., Vilas-Boas, J. P., & Fernandes, R. J. (2016). Front Crawl Sprint Performance: A Cluster Analysis of Biomechanics, Energetics, Coordinative, and Anthropometric Determinants in Young Swimmers. Motor Control, 20(3), 209–221. https://doi.org/10.1123/mc.2014-0050
Jürimäe, J., Haljaste, K., Cicchella, A., Lätt, E., Purge, P., Leppik, A., & Jürimäe, T. (2007). Analysis of Swimming Performance from Physical, Physiological, and Biomechanical Parameters in Young Swimmers. Pediatric Exercise Science, 19(1), 70–81. https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.19.1.70
Lätt, E., Jürimäe, J., Mäestu, J., Purge, P., Rämson, R., Haljaste, K., Keskinen, K., Rodriguez, F., & Jürimäe, T. (2010). Physiological, biomechanical and anthropometrical predictors of sprint swimming performance in adolescent swimmers. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, (3), 398–404.
Mezzaroba, P. V., & Machado, F. A. (2014). Effect of Age, Anthropometry, and Distance in Stroke Parameters of Young Swimmers. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 9(4), 702–706. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2013-0278
Morais, J., Saavedra, J., Costa, M., Silva, A., Marinho, D., & Barbosa, T. (2013). Tracking young talented swimmers: Follow-up of performance and its biomechanical determinant factors. Acta of Bioengineering and Biomechanics, (3), 129–138. https://doi.org/10.5277/abb130316
Morais, J. E., Marques, M. C., Marinho, D. A., Silva, A. J., & Barbosa, T. M. (2014). Longitudinal modeling in sports: Young swimmers’ performance and biomechanics profile. Human Movement Science, 37, 111–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2014.07.005
Morais, J. E., Silva, A. J., Marinho, D. A., Lopes, V. P., & Barbosa, T. M. (2017). Determinant Factors of Long-Term Performance Development in Young Swimmers. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 12(2), 198–205. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2015-0420
Morais, J. E., Barbosa, T. M., Nevill, A. M., Cobley, S., & Marinho, D. A. (2022). Understanding the Role of Propulsion in the Prediction of Front-Crawl Swimming Velocity and in the Relationship Between Stroke Frequency and Stroke Length. Frontiers in Physiology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.876838
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. International Journal of Surgery, 88, 105906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2021.105906
Post, A. K., Koning, R. H., Visscher, C., & Elferink-Gemser, M. T. (2023). Tracking performance and its underlying characteristics in talented swimmers: a longitudinal study during the junior-to-senior transition. Frontiers in Physiology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2023.1221567
Saavedra, J. M., Escalante, Y., & Rodríguez, F. A. (2010). A Multivariate Analysis of Performance in Young Swimmers. Pediatric Exercise Science, 22(1), 135–151. https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.22.1.135
Vaeyens, R., Güllich, A., Warr, C. R., & Philippaerts, R. (2009). Talent identification and promotion programmes of Olympic athletes. Journal of Sports Sciences, 27(13), 1367–1380. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410903110974
Vilas-Boas, J. P., Costa, L., Fernandes, R. J., Ribeiro, J., Figueiredo, P., Marinho, D., Silva, A. J., Rouboa, A., & Machado, L. (2010). Determination of the Drag Coefficient during the First and Second Gliding Positions of the Breaststroke Underwater Stroke. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 26(3), 324–331. https://doi.org/10.1123/jab.26.3.324
Data availability statement: No datasets were generated or analyzed during the current study.
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
