Talent identification and development in Olympic triathlon: a perspective from Brazilian coaches

Vieira, Leandro Albuquerque; Werneck, Francisco Zacaron; Coelho, Emerson Filipino; Miranda, Luciano; Lima, Jorge Roberto Perrout de

doi:10.1590/1980-0037.2023v25e90562

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Revista Brasileira de Cineantropometria & Desempenho Humano

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original article • Rev. bras. cineantropom. desempenho hum. 25 • 2023 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-0037.2023v25e90562 copy

Talent identification and development in Olympic triathlon: a perspective from Brazilian coaches

Identificação e desenvolvimento de talentos no triatlo olímpico: uma perspectiva de treinadores brasileiros

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

The knowledge of coaches has been used in research on talent identification and development. The objective was to investigate how Brazilian triathlon coaches identify talents and what is the importance of different factors and indicators for the development of young triathletes. 37 coaches (89% male; 36.2 ± 8.3 years; 43% international competitive level) answered an online questionnaire about anthropometric, physical-motor, technical, tactical, psychological and environmental characteristics. On a scale of 1 (not very important) to 5 (extremely important), coaches indicated to what extent a factor/indicator of sporting potential was important for talent development in triathlon. 45.9% of the coaches perform talent identification, mainly by physical-motor tests and triathlon simulations. In talent development, the physical-motor factor was the most important, followed by the technical, psychological and anthropometric factor, and finally the tactical and environmental factor. Most coaches considered as extremely important the following indicators: determination (70%), aerobic endurance (65%), specific swimming skills (62%), ability to withstand pressure (59%), and efficiency of the cyclic gesture of swimming, cycling, and running (57%). We conclude that Brazilian triathlon coaches identify talents mainly through batteries of tests and triathlon simulations and consider the physical-motor factor the most important for the development of young talented triathletes, but not the only one.

Key words:
Aptitude; Athletes; Athletic performance; Talent selection

	N	%
Sex
Male	33	89.2
Female	4	10.8
Age Group
19 to 29 years	6	16.2
30 to 40 years	21	56.8
>40 years	10	27.0
Region
North	2	5.4
South	3	8.1
Southeast	24	64.9
Northeast	4	10.8
Mid-West	3	8.1
Experience Time
Up to 10 years	28	75.7
11 to 20 years	7	18.9
>20 years	2	5.4
Competitive Level
Internacional	16	43.2
National	14	37.8
State/Municipal	7	19.0
Former Athletes of Triathlon
Yes	34	91.9
No	3	8.1

Procedures	N	%
Battery of motor physical tests	10	58.8
Triathlon simulations	9	52.9
Competition performance	7	41.2
Progression in training	7	41.2
Subjective evaluation of potential by the coach	6	35.3
Tests of specific skills	4	23.5
Anthropometric measurements	3	17.6
Evaluation of biological maturation	3	17.6
Psychological questionnaires	1	5.9
Social level and family conditions	1	5.9

	Average ± DP	Importance Attributed (%)
	Average ± DP	Nothing	Not Much	Important	Very Much	Extremely
Anthropometric	3.3±0.9	2.7%	13.5%	40.5%	35.1%	8.1%
Body Mass	3.4±1.0	2.7%	10.8%	51.4%	16.2%	18.9%
Height	2.8±0.8	2.7%	37.8%	35.1%	41.5%	0.0%
Muscle Mass	3.2±0.9	2.7%	16.2%	40.5%	35.1%	5.4%
Wingspan	3.2±1.1	8.1%	16.2%	37.8%	27.0%	10.8%
Length of MMII	3.0±1.0	5.4%	27.0%	40.5%	18.9%	8.1%
Biotype	3.8±1.0	2.7%	8.1%	27.0%	35.1%	27.0%
Physical-motor	4.2±0.8	0.0%	2.7%	10.8%	45.9%	40.5%
Speed	3.9±0.9	0.0%	5.4%	29.7%	35.1%	29.7%
Isometric maximal strength of upper limbs	2.7±0.7	0.0%	45.9%	37.8%	16.2%	0.0%
Isometric maximal strength of lower limbs	3.1±0.9	1.1%	32.4%	32.4%	29.7%	5.4%
Lumbar traction force	3.2±1.0	2.7%	24.3%	35.1%	29.7%	8.1%
Dynamic maximal strength of upper limbs	3.3±0.9	0.0%	16.2%	48.6%	24.3%	10.8%
Dynamic maximal strength of lower limbs	3.7±0.9	0.0%	8.1%	37.8%	35.1%	18.9%
Potency of upper limbs	3.7±1.0	0.0%	10.8%	35.1%	29.7%	24.3%
Potency of lower limbs	4.2±0.9	0.0%	2.7%	21.6%	32.4%	43.2%
Aerobic endurance	4.5±0.7	0.0%	2.7%	5.4%	27.0%	64.9%
Flexibility	3.6±0.9	0.0%	10.8%	32.4%	43.2%	13.5%
Anaerobic endurance	4.0±0.9	0.0%	8.1%	16.2%	40.5%	35.1%
Agility	3.5±0.8	0.0%	8.1%	43.2%	37.8%	10.8%
Balance	3.7±0.8	0.0%	10.8%	27.0%	43.2%	18.9%
Reaction Time	3.3±1.1	2.7%	21.6%	32.4%	29.7%	13.5%
Motor Coordination	4.0±0.9	0.0%	2.7%	35.1%	24.3%	37.8%
Technical	4.1±0.8	0.0%	2.7%	21.6%	40.5%	35.1%
Swimming specific skills	4.5±0.8	0.0%	2.7%	8.1%	27.0%	62.2%
Running specific skills	4.1±0.9	0.0%	5.4%	18.9%	35.1%	40.5%
Cycling specific skills	4.1±0.9	0.0%	5.4%	18.9%	37.8%	37.8%
Procedures within the transition area	3.8±1.1	0.0%	10.8%	32.4%	18.9%	37.8%
Hydrodynamics and aerodynamics	4.1±0.9	0.0%	2.7%	27.0%	32.4%	37.8%
Cyclic gesture of swimming, cycling, and running	4.4±0.8	0.0%	5.4%	5.4%	32.4%	56.8%
Tactical	3.2±1.0	2.7%	18.9%	43.2%	24.3%	10.8%
Positioning with respect to other competitors	3.6±0.9	0.0%	8.1%	43.2%	27.0%	21.6%
Vacuum utilization	4.2±0.8	0.0%	2.7%	18.9%	37.8%	40.5%
Pacing strategy	3.8±1.0	0.0%	10.8%	27.0%	37.8%	24.3%
Knowledge about the other triathletes	3.2±0.9	0.0%	24.3%	37.8%	32.4%	5.4%
Decision making in changing situations	4.0±0.9	0.0%	5.4%	27.0%	29.7%	37.8%
Approach actions to the opponent	3.6±1.0	0.0%	10.8%	37.8%	29.7%	21.6%
Supplementation strategy	3.8±1.1	2.7%	5.4%	37.8%	16.2%	37.8%
Psychological	4.3±0.6	0.0%	0.0%	8.1%	56.8%	35.1%
Self-confidence	4.4±0.8	0.0%	0.0%	16.2%	32.4%	51.4%
Ability to withstand pressure	4.5±0.7	0.0%	0.0%	10.8%	29.7%	59.5%
Concentration	4.5±0.6	0.0%	0.0%	8.1%	37.8%	54.1%
Competitiveness	4.2±0.8	0.0%	2.7%	18.9%	35.1%	43.2%
Goal setting	4.0±0.8	0.0%	2.7%	27.0%	40.5%	29.7%
Dealing with adversity	4.5±0.6	0.0%	0.0%	8.1%	37.8%	54.1%
Trainability	4.4±0.7	0.0%	0.0%	10.8%	43.2%	45.9%
Determination	4.6±0.6	0.0%	0.0%	8.1%	21.6%	70.3%
Environmental	3.6±1.0	0.0%	13.5%	40.5%	18.9%	27.0%
Having an athlete in the family	2.3±1.1	24.3%	40.5%	24.3%	5.4%	5.4%
Early initiation	3.3±1.2	8.1%	16.2%	40.5%	10.8%	24.3%
Socioeconomic level	2.9±0.9	8.1%	18.9%	51.4%	18.9%	2.7%
Sports practice of parents	2.8±1.0	13.5%	18.9%	48.6%	13.5%	5.4%
Training location/club	3.6±1.0	2.7%	8.1%	40.5%	27.0%	21.6%
Academic performance	3.2±1.0	2.7%	16.2%	48.6%	18.9%	13.5%
Physical activity level	3.9±1.0	2.7%	2.7%	24.3%	40.5%	29.7%
Family support	4.3±0.8	0.0%	2.7%	13.5%	32.4%	51.4%
Quantity of practice	4.0±0.9	0.0%	5.4%	24.3%	37.8%	32.4%
Quality of practice	4.2±0.9	0.0%	8.1%	10.8%	32.4%	48.6%
Competition experience	3.5±1.1	5.4%	10.8%	27.0%	37.8%	18.9%

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[1] Corresponding author Jorge Roberto Perrout de Lima. Federal University of Juiz de Fora José Lourenço Kelmer Street, s/n, 36036-900, São Pedro, Juiz de Fora (MG), Brazil. E-mail: jorge.perrout@gmail.com