50 Chapter 3 emerged differences in PPA, but to different developmental patterns in phase B. Obviously, an intriguing question is: what causes these differences in developmental patterns and the higher PPB of elite swimmers? In here, it is interesting to consider the inter-individual differences in adolescent growth processes and the quantity and quality of training hours as explaining factors (Ericsson et al., 1993; Malina et al., 2015). Moreover, differences in underlying performance characteristics between elite and high-competitive swimmers might relate to a larger performance potential (Elferink-Gemser et al., 2011). If so, PPB might be a promising variable for talent development and selection processes as it may reflect this larger performance potential. However, the present study did not include any of these factors and consequently, more research is warranted. Therefore, a recommendation for future research would be to further unravel successful performance development to the top by tracking maturation, learning and training related to the personal performance characteristics of the individual swimmers (e.g. between 12-18 years) and their environment over time (Jonker et al., 2010; Elferink-Gemser & Visscher 2012; Till et al., 2013). Moreover, as the present study showed large SDs within age categories and different effect sizes between age categories, it would be interesting to include multilevel modelling to examine within-subject variations and age-related effects in future studies investigating talented swimmers. Conclusion The present study showed significant differences in IPP between talented swimmers who have made it to the top (referred to as elite swimmers) and talented swimmers who did not make it to the top (referred to as high-competitive swimmers). Without denying individual differences, talented swimmers who have made it to the top, improved more in the period between the first swim performance of the season and their current season best performance (PPB) than talented swimmers who did not make it to the top. Practical implications The findings of the present study can be used to compare interim performance progression (IPP) of talented swimmers nowadays with the age-related IPP of swimmers who have reached elite level. In this way, IPP might in addition to swim performance function as an additional tool for federations and coaches to further select and monitor future talented swimmers. However at all times, federations and coaches should be aware that performance progression is not a linear process and that there are different pathways to elite level performance. Therefore, we want to emphasize to use IPP as one of many parameters which can provide insight about performance progression of talented swimmers.
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