Associations of Body Morphology with Physiological Function, Physical Qualities, and Competitive Performance in Elite Freestyle Skiing Aerials Athletes

Abstract

Purpose

This study examined associations of body morphology with physiological function, physical qualities, and competitive performance in elite freestyle skiing aerials athletes.

Methods

Twenty-nine elite Chinese national-team athletes preparing for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics participated. Anthropometric, physiological, and physical qualities data were collected using standardized protocols. Principal component analysis was used as an exploratory data-reduction approach to summarize correlated morphological and physical qualities indicators. Multiple regression and hierarchical regression models examined associations among morphology, physiological function, physical qualities, and competitive performance.

Results

The muscle factor was positively associated with several physiological and physical qualities indicators, particularly 1RM squat, 1RM clean, and relative peak anaerobic power, whereas the fat–somatotype factor showed negative associations with several strength and physiological indicators. Morphological factors accounted for 63.6% of performance variance within the present sample. After physiological indicators and physical qualities factors were added, the final model accounted for 89.2% of variance, with the physical qualities block contributing an additional ΔR² of 0.227 (P < 0.001). In the final model, limb strength (β = 0.885, P < 0.01), core strength (β = 0.353, P < 0.05), and the length factor (β = 0.227, P < 0.05) were positively associated with competitive performance.

Conclusions

A low-fat, high-muscle physique combined with well-developed limb and core strength was associated with competitive performance, while length-related body proportions may provide supplementary information. These exploratory findings may support athlete monitoring and individualized conditioning but should not be interpreted as causal determinants or stand-alone selection criteria.

Keywords

Body morphology / Physiological function / Physical qualities / Athletic performance / Freestyle skiing aerials

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Funding

the Science and Technology Innovation Project of the General Administration of Sport of China(24KJCX006)

the Key Basic Scientific Research Project of the Department of Education of Liaoning Province(JYTZD2023130)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Beijing Sport University

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