Changes in body composition and physique of elite university-level female swimmers during a competitive season

Changes in the body composition of a sample of elite university-level female swimmers were monitored at three points during a competitive season, October, December and March. Body composition was estimated via densitometry and a series of anthropometric dimensions was taken at each occasion. Body weight, absolute and relative fatness, all six skinfolds and the calf circumference decreased, while density and lean body mass increased significantly during the period of intensive training between October and December. Changes during the second half of the season were smaller. Weight and relative fatness increased, while body density and the triceps skinfold decreased significantly between December and March. Hence, the major changes in body composition associated with swim training occurred during the early part of the season when training was intense. Most of the changes were maintained during the second half of the season. Correlations between body composition at the start of training and changes after approximately 10 and 24 weeks were negative and generally significant. Changes in anthropometric somatotype estimates with swim training were minor and occurred primarily in the first and third components.