Predictors of performance on world-level arm wrestlers

Abstract

This study aims to explore predictors of performance ascertaining the optimal body composition for world-level arm wrestlers in a competitive environment. Athletes underwent body composition assessments and their final competition classifications were noted. Athletes had a pairwise comparison percentile groups for relative fat mass (FM%), scattered by country, fat-free mass (FFM%) clustered by final classification, and comparison of the final classifications, grouped by country. A total of 220 elite, male competitors from 33 countries showed a mixed classification by country for FM% percentiles (p = .089) with values ranging from the 10th percentile (FM = 7.1%) to above the 90th percentile (FM = 16.1%). Extreme values (FM = 4.5%) and country of origin did not predict the classification of the athletes, although the athletes´ ranking <75th did suggest a tendency towards classification (FFM% = 27.3%). Thus, world-level arm wrestlers revealed nutritional issues concerning values for body composition components in a competition environment.