The purposes of this study were to determine the mass, center of mass location, and moments of inertia of the body segments for Chinese male and female athletes using a mathematical modeling approach, and to develop a set of regression equation to estimate inertia properties of body segments using simple anthropometric measurements as predictors. Subjects were 140 male and 77 female athletes belonging to virous college sport clubs. Each subject, wearing swimming suit and cap, was stereo-photographed in a standing position. Fourteen body segments including the upper and lower torso were modeled to be a system of elliptical zones 2 cm thick based on Jensen and Yokoi et al. Significant prediction equations based on the body height, body weight, and segment lengths were then sought, and some prediction strategies were examined. Mass ratios, center of mass location ratios and radius of gyration ratios for males and females were computed by using the mathematical model. There were many significant differences in body segment perameters between the two sexes. Regression equations for estimating the Chinese athletes were generated using the independent variables of weight and length of the human body. Significant differences in body segment perameters between Chinese and Japanese were found in the torso and the limbs. In both sexes Chinese had lower weight values in the forearm. thing and calf, and higher length values in the upper arm, forearm and thigh than Japanese athletes.