Retrospective longitudinal growth study of boys and girls active in sport

Longitudinal records from the Wroclaw Growth Study and the Wroclaw Longitudinal Twin Study were screened for individuals who were active in sport during childhood and adolescence and who were active in sport as young adults. The resulting sample was 25 boys and 13 girls. Heights and weights of the active boys indicated a growth pattern characteristic of early maturers, which was verified in advanced skeletal, sexual and somatic maturation during adolescence. The pubertal progress of active boys suggested no differences in tempo compared to nonathletic boys. In contrast, girls active in sport presented a pattern of growth and maturation characteristic of average maturing individuals, but were taller and heavier than local reference data. Skeletal and chronological ages of active girls did not differ, and the active girls did not differ from local reference data in sexual maturation. PHV, however, was reached later by about one-half of a year. The pubertal progress of girls active in sport did not differ from that of nonathletic girls.