Relative Age Effect in Swimming: Insights from a National Talent Program

Abstract

Recognizing the impact of the relative age effect (RAE) in talent selection can help ensure a more equitable and effective athlete development pathway. This study examined the prevalence of the RAE and its potential influences on critical anthropometric and swimming performance metrics in a cohort of talented adolescent athletes participating in the Hellenic Swimming Federation program. The presence of the place of early development effect was also explored. The sample consisted of 129 male and female swimmers born in 2008 (males, n = 24; females, n = 26) and 2009 (males, n = 41; females, n = 36) during the 2022 annual talent meeting. According to the results, evidence for the prevalence of the RAE for the 14-year-old male participants born in the first quarter (19.4%) and both male and female participants aged 13 (29.2 and 29.0% for male and female swimmers respectively), also born in the first quarter was observed. The impact of the RAE on 50 m and 400 m swimming performance was apparent only in male swimmers (p<.05). The anthropometric variables examined did not exhibit a significant impact of the RAE, on either gender, with the exception of sitting height in female participants aged 13. Moreover, the swimmers’ representation in the national talent program was influenced by their place of early development, with smaller regions exhibiting higher talent participation. These findings highlight the importance of strategies to mitigate the impact of the RAE and ensure equal access to training resources for all swimmers regardless of their early development location.