181 General discussion 8 had already exceeded this standard by 1%. However, while this is an indisputable factor in both males and females, it remains essential to note that the advantage for swimmers on track to the elite level results from the combination of multiple characteristics, along with specific levels and progression rates. Catalysts for progression From the age of twelve onwards, our studies consistently revealed improvements in both swim performance and underlying performance characteristics. These progressions are undoubtedly influenced by growth and maturation processes (Abbott et al., 2021; Malina et al., 2004; Morais et al., 2022), along with an increase in training hours (Morais et al., 2017; Nugent et al., 2017; Young et al., 2020). However, beyond these factors, selfregulation of learning (SRL) is proposed as another important variable on athlete’s capacity to improve. This notion is supported by the findings from Chapter 5, where both levels and progression of swim performance were associated with the engagement in trainingcentered SRL processes. Particularly, we found that swimmers on track to the elite level reflected more frequently on their strengths and weaknesses during training sessions and carefully assessed which tasks to expend effort in rather than expending effort in all situations. Moreover, they more frequently evaluated their training process and outcomes achieved after training. The higher engagement in these SRL subprocesses suggests that swimmers on track to the elite level may learn and train in a more efficient and effective way, and therefore, benefit more from training. This may explain, among other factors, why swimmers on track to the elite level exhibit higher levels of proficiency and progression, even in the absence of significant between-group differences in maturation and training compared to lowerperforming peers as observed in Chapters 6 and 7. The advantages of being more actively involved in the learning process in and out the water may become even more pronounced after puberty, especially during the late-junior to early-senior transition. In this critical phase, improvements are no longer self-evident due to the natural slow down in growth and maturation processes, coupled with nearing maximum training hours. Consequently, to avoid stagnation, the ability to derive greater benefits from training is likely to become even more crucial as swimmers progress further in their careers and approach their age of peak performance. Athletic profiles are specific for males and females The findings of this thesis point out crucial differences between male and female swimmers on track to the elite level. This underscores the importance of recognizing that findings from male swimmers cannot be directly extrapolated to females, emphasizing the need for sex-specific considerations.
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