Physiological Characteristics of an Aging Olympic Athlete.

• Autores: Lars Nybo, Nikolai Baastrup Nordsborg, Jakob Friis Schmidt, Stephen Fritzdorf
• Localización: Medicine & Science in Sports & exercise: Official Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, ISSN 0195-9131, Vol. 46, Nº. 11, 2014, págs. 2132-2138
• Idioma: inglés
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• Dialnet Métricas: 1 Cita
• Resumen

  • AB Purpose: To investigate the physiological basis of continued world-class performance of a world-class rower who won medals (three gold and two bronze) at five consecutive Olympic Games. Methods: From the age of 19 to 40 yr, maximal oxygen uptake (V[spacing dot above]O2max), peak HR, blood lactate, and rowing ergometer performance were assessed annually. Results: During the first years of his elite career (from age 19 to 24), V[spacing dot above]O2max increased from 5.5 to approximately 5.9 L[middle dot]min-1 (78 mL[middle dot]min-1[middle dot]kg-1) and his average power during 6-min maximal rowing increased from 420 to approximately 460 W. Although his HRmax declined by approximately 20 bpm during the 20-yr period, maximal aerobic power, evaluated both as V[spacing dot above]O2max and 6-min test performance, was maintained until the age of 40. Furthermore, peak lactate levels remained unchanged and average power outputs during 10-s, 60-s, and 60-min ergometer tests were all maintained at approximately 800 W, approximately 700 W, and approximately 350 W, respectively, indicating that he was able to preserve both aerobic and anaerobic exercise performances. Echocardiographic analyses revealed a left ventricular mass of 198 g and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter of 5.8 cm. Conclusions: This longitudinal case indicates that until the age of 40 yr, a steady increase in the oxygen pulse may have compensated for the significant decline in the maximal heart frequency. Furthermore, the maintenance of aerobic and anaerobic exercise capacities allowed this Olympic athleteto compete at the highest level for almost two decades.