Italians Are the Fastest 3000 m Open-Water Master Swimmers in the World

Aldo Seffrin, Claudio A. B. Lira, Rodrigo L. Vancini, Douglas A. T. Santos, Cathia Moser, Elias Villiger, Thomas Rosemann, Beat Knechtle, Lee Hill and Marilia S. Andrade
Additional contact information
Aldo Seffrin: Department of Physiology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo 04021-001, Brazil
Claudio A. B. Lira: Human and Exercise Physiology Division, Faculty of Physical Education and Dance, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
Rodrigo L. Vancini: Center for Physical Education and Sports, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória 29075-910, Brazil
Douglas A. T. Santos: Faculty of Physical Education, State University of Bahia, Teixeira de Freitas 45995-000, Brazil
Cathia Moser: Balgrist University Hospital, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
Elias Villiger: Institute of Primary Care, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
Thomas Rosemann: Institute of Primary Care, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
Beat Knechtle: Institute of Primary Care, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
Lee Hill: Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
Marilia S. Andrade: Department of Physiology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo 04021-001, Brazil

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 14, 1-9

Abstract: Background: It is well known that athletes originating from a specific region or country can master specific sports disciplines (e.g., East-African runners in long-distance running). In addition, physical and athletic performance are the result of an interaction between genetic, environmental and epigenetic factors. However, little is known about on what determines sports success and performance for long-distance master swimmers such as origin. The aim of the study was to investigate the participation and performance trends of elite master open-water swimmers competing in the World Championships (WC) in 3000 m open-water swimming between 1986 and 2019. Methods: A total of 9247 valid participants were analyzed using generalized linear models (GLMs) with a gamma probability distribution and log link function. Results? Most of the starters were from Italy (1646 participations), followed by the United States of America (USA) (1128 participations) and Germany (959 participations). Swimmers from Italy were significantly faster than swimmers from Canada, Germany, USA, Great Britain and also from all other countries grouped ( p < 0.005). The age group from 35–39 years old was significantly faster than athletes from age groups of 25–29 years old, 30–34 years old, 40–44 years old, 45–49 years old and 50–54 years old ( p < 0.005). The percentage of local athletes in WC was 36% and varied from 36% (Italy, 2004) to 43 % (Germany), 53% (Italy, 2012) and up to 68 % (USA, 1992). Conclusions: Swimmers from Italy were the faster and the most numerous starters during this period of 27 years and 15 editions all over the world in 3000 m master open-water swimming.

Keywords: long-distance swimming; nationality; performance; age group athlete (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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