The Relationship of Performance and Physical Fitness Factors in Korean National Men's Bobsled and Skeleton Athletes

PURPOSE This study aimed to examine the relationship between performance-related factors and physical abilities in Korean national bobsled and skeleton athletes. METHODS Sixteen bobsled and skeleton athletes who participated in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics as a Korean national team volunteered to participate in this study. The participants were evaluated in terms of performance-related factors, including anaerobic power, 5 bound jump (5 BJ), and sprinting speed by sections, and physical abilities, including isokinetic strength, 1 repetition maximum (1 RM) strength, body composition, anthropometry, and agility. Stepwise selection of multiple regression analyses was used to investigate the relationship between performance-related factors and physical ability. RESULTS Statistically significant correlations were observed between anaerobic power, sprinting speed by sections, 5 BJ and chest, isokinetic strength (knee, 180°/s), deadlift, and side-step. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study show that the performance of Korean national bobsled and skeletal athletes is related to upper and lower body strength and agility. Thus, future training programs for bobsled and skeletal athletes should focus on improving strength and agility for performance enhancement.