Structural vs. functional specialization: distinct competitive profiles in youth male and female flatwater paddlers

Objective This study aimed to determine the extent to which structural (anthropometric) versus functional (physiological) characteristics drive the specialization of youth kayakers and canoeists. Methods Using a cross-sectional comparative design, eighty-two youth athletes (42 kayakers, 40 canoeists) from the Zhejiang Provincial Training Camp were assessed. Comprehensive profiling included anthropometry (height, arm span), body composition, hematological markers (Hb, HCT), and specific fitness tests (Wingate anaerobic test, 1-RM strength, core stability, and 3,000 m run). Results Distinct specialization patterns emerged, differentiated significantly by gender. Male athletes exhibited both structural and functional divergence: kayakers possessed significantly greater height, arm span, hematological capacity (Hb, HCT), and explosive peak power, whereas canoeists demonstrated superior posterior core stability, with no significant differences in anaerobic endurance between disciplines. In contrast, female athletes showed no significant anthropometric differences; divergence was exclusively functional. Foundational aerobic capacity and upper-body strength did not differ between female disciplines; instead, their specialization was highly specific to the glycolytic system, with female canoeists demonstrating superior anaerobic average power. Conclusion The findings confirm that while male specialization is constrained by structural mismatches and distinct explosive power requirements, female specialization allows for greater talent mobility due to the lack of structural barriers, relying instead on highly specific functional adaptation within the anaerobic energy pathways.