TY - JOUR
T1 - Physiological characteristics of an aging Olympic athlete
AU - Nybo, Lars
AU - Schmidt, Jakob Friis
AU - Fritzdorf, Stephen
AU - Nordsborg, Nikolai Baastrup
N1 - CURIS 2014 NEXS 093
PY - 2014/11/10
Y1 - 2014/11/10
N2 - 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 (VO2max), 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),VO2max increased from 5.5 to approximately 5.9 L·min-1 (78 mL·min-1·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 VO2max 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.
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 (VO2max), 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),VO2max increased from 5.5 to approximately 5.9 L·min-1 (78 mL·min-1·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 VO2max 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.
U2 - 10.1249/mss.0000000000000331
DO - 10.1249/mss.0000000000000331
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 24598701
SN - 0195-9131
VL - 46
SP - 2132
EP - 2138
JO - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
JF - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
IS - 11
ER -