SPECIAL ENDURANCE AND MORPHO-FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF YOUNG GYMNASTS IN THE CONTEXT OF A LONG-TERM TRAINING PROCESS

Abstract

The increasing intricacy of competition routines and the considerable intensity of training loads in modern artistic gymnastics are placing greater demands on athletes' physical fitness and functional reserves. The objective of this study is threefold: firstly, to analyse the physiological determinants of specific endurance; secondly, to determine the contribution of aerobic and anaerobic capacity to maintaining the coordinative stability of motor actions; and thirdly, to systematise current methodological approaches to sports selection and functional monitoring.

The methodological basis of the study comprised a systematic review of the relevant literature, modelling of gymnasts' functional profiles, and the assessment of biomechanical parameters. It has been established that the execution of full-scale competitive combinations in the all-around event is associated with a sharp increase in the activity of the cardiorespiratory system. During this period, heart rate (HR) reaches critical values comparable to those seen in cyclic sports. Scientific evidence has demonstrated the pivotal function of aerobic capacity (maximum oxygen uptake) in the expedited resynthesis of energy substrates and in counteracting the deterioration of complex coordination structures in the context of fatigue.

Moreover, a systematisation and comparative analysis of standardised international protocols for sports selection and functional testing of gymnasts has been conducted. It has been determined that the effective development of specific endurance is predicated on the concept of 'energy surplus', which involves the formation of an excess functional reserve. This approach precludes the possibility of systematic training whilst in a state of profound physiological fatigue. Consequently, this ensures a high degree of reliability and consistency in the execution of competitive elements on the vaulting table.