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Swimming at the Time of COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study among Young Italian Competitive Athletes

Author

Listed:
  • Francesca Gallè

    (Department of Movement Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Naples “Parthenope”, 80133 Naples, Italy)

  • Carmela Protano

    (Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Matteo Zaccarin

    (Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Stefano Zanni

    (Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Federica Valeriani

    (Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00135 Rome, Italy)

  • Giorgio Liguori

    (Department of Movement Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Naples “Parthenope”, 80133 Naples, Italy)

  • Vincenzo Romano Spica

    (Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00135 Rome, Italy)

  • Matteo Vitali

    (Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, several restriction measures were imposed to control the virus transmission, with important repercussions on different sectors, including sport. This study aimed to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Italian competitive swimmers by analyzing how the disease and the restriction measures affected their training. In total, 396 competitive swimmers (mean age 16.0 ± 3.2 years) participated. A questionnaire was used to collect their general information, to assess whether they had had COVID-19 and the number of training days lost due to the disease or to the closure of swimming facilities, and the possible alternative training adopted. Twenty-four (6.1%) participants had had COVID-19 and lost, on average, 32 training days. The closure of facilities caused an interruption in swimming training for about 18% of the participants. The majority of these continued their training, mainly through home-based exercise, but reduced their weekly training time (-8 median hours/week). A positive association was found between regularly adopted weekly training volume and that assumed during pandemic closure (OR 9.433, CI95% 1.644–54.137, p = 0.012), suggesting that the previous level of engagement in sport can represent a predictor of exercise maintenance in challenging situations such as a pandemic. Further studies are needed to identify personal, environmental, and social resources that can help individuals to counteract the negative effects of restriction measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesca Gallè & Carmela Protano & Matteo Zaccarin & Stefano Zanni & Federica Valeriani & Giorgio Liguori & Vincenzo Romano Spica & Matteo Vitali, 2022. "Swimming at the Time of COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study among Young Italian Competitive Athletes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-8, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:20:p:13236-:d:942139
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Monoem Haddad & Zied Abbes & Iñigo Mujika & Karim Chamari, 2021. "Impact of COVID-19 on Swimming Training: Practical Recommendations during Home Confinement/Isolation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-12, April.
    2. Wojciech Głyk & Maciej Hołub & Jakub Karpiński & Wojciech Rejdych & Wojciech Sadowski & Alina Trybus & Jakub Baron & Łukasz Rydzik & Tadeusz Ambroży & Arkadiusz Stanula, 2022. "Effects of a 12-Week Detraining Period on Physical Capacity, Power and Speed in Elite Swimmers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-11, April.
    3. Jorge Lorenzo Calvo & Miriam Granado-Peinado & Alfonso de la Rubia & Diego Muriarte & Alberto Lorenzo & Daniel Mon-López, 2021. "Psychological States and Training Habits during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown in Spanish Basketball Athletes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-13, August.
    4. Francesca Gallè & Elita Anna Sabella & Stefano Ferracuti & Osvalda De Giglio & Giuseppina Caggiano & Carmela Protano & Federica Valeriani & Eduardo Alfonso Parisi & Giuliana Valerio & Giorgio Liguori , 2020. "Sedentary Behaviors and Physical Activity of Italian Undergraduate Students during Lockdown at the Time of CoViD−19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-11, August.
    5. Gloria Martinez Perez & Matthew VanSumeren & Michael Brown & Tamara Hew-Butler, 2021. "Pandemic-Induced Reductions on Swim Training Volume and Performance in Collegiate Swimmers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-13, December.
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