Anthropometric characteristics and long-term trends among olympic male water polo players from former Yugoslavia

Anthropometric characteristics are recognized as important determinants of elite performance in water polo. Although secular trends in body height, body weight, and BMI have been documented in various sports, long-term historical analyses of Olympic water polo players from a single, highly successful sporting system are lacking. This retrospective population-based study analyzed anthropometric data of male water polo players representing former Yugoslavia at the Olympic Games between 1956 and 1988. Body height, body weight, and body mass index (BMI) were examined using descriptive statistics and trend analyses to identify long-term morphological changes across Olympic cycles. A pronounced secular increase in body height was observed across Olympic cycles, accompanied by a moderate increase in body weight. In contrast, BMI values remained relatively stable over time, indicating proportional morphological development rather than excessive body weight gain. Considering these trends and the profiles of the former Yugoslav national teams that achieved the greatest successes at the Olympic Games, it is evident that similar anthropometric characteristics should be taken into account when selecting top level players for elite squads.