Abstract

This study aimed to determine the somatotype characteristics of male whitewater canoe athletes of the Turkish National Canoe Team. 10 male whitewater canoe athletes from the Turkish National Canoe Team voluntarily participated in the study during the national team camp in Rize in 2011. The age, height, weight, skinfold thickness, circumference, and width measurements of the male whitewater canoe athletes who participated in the study were taken. Heath-Carter method was used to determine their somatotypes. Statistical analyses of the measurements were carried out by using SPSS 13. The mean values of the age, height, and weight of the male whitewater canoe athletes of the Turkish National Canoe Team were found as follows; mean age 19.10±2.68 years old; mean height 176.20±5.69 cm; mean body weight 74.54±10.71 kg. The mean values of the somatotype components of the male canoe athletes of the Turkish National Canoe Team were found as endomorphy 2.20±0.78, mesomorphy 5.00±1.86, and ectomorphy 2.30±1.15. We are of the opinion that our study, in addition to determining the somatotype characteristics of the male canoe athletes of the Turkish National Canoe Team, will also contribute to the studies carried out in this field.

Key words: Somatotype, anthropometry, canoe, male