title: BMI, a performance parameter for speed improvement.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between anthropometric characteristics and performance in all track and field running events and assess Body Mass Index (BMI) as a relevant performance indicator. Data of mass, height, BMI and speed were collected for the top 100 international men athletes in track events from 100 m to marathon for the 1996-2011 seasons, and analyzed by decile of performance. Speed is significantly associated with mass (r = 0.71) and BMI (r = 0.71) in world-class runners and moderately with height (r = 0.39). Athletes, on average were continuously lighter and smaller with distance increments. In track and field, speed continuously increases with BMI. In each event, performances are organized through physique gradients. « Lighter and smaller is better » in endurance events but « heavier and taller is better » for sprints. When performance increases, BMI variability progressively tightens, but it is always centered around a distance-specific optimum. Running speed is organized through biometric gradients, which both drives and are driven by performance optimization. The highest performance level is associated with narrower biometric intervals. Through BMI indicators, diversity is possible for sprints whereas for long distance events, there is a more restrictive aspect in terms of physique. BMI is a relevant indicator, which allows for a clear differentiation of athletes' capacities between each discipline and level of performance in the fields of human possibilities.
authors.affiliation: IRMES (Institut de Recherche bioMédicale et d'Epidémiologie du Sport), INSEP, Paris, France ; Université Paris-Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Adrien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sedeaud
authors.affiliation: IRMES (Institut de Recherche bioMédicale et d'Epidémiologie du Sport), INSEP, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marc
authors.affiliation: IRMES (Institut de Recherche bioMédicale et d'Epidémiologie du Sport), INSEP, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Adrien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marck
authors.affiliation: IRMES (Institut de Recherche bioMédicale et d'Epidémiologie du Sport), INSEP, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dor
authors.affiliation: IRMES (Institut de Recherche bioMédicale et d'Epidémiologie du Sport), INSEP, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schipman
authors.affiliation: IRMES (Institut de Recherche bioMédicale et d'Epidémiologie du Sport), INSEP, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dorsey
authors.affiliation: IRMES (Institut de Recherche bioMédicale et d'Epidémiologie du Sport), INSEP, Paris, France ; Université de Rouen, CETAPS EA 3832, Mont Saint Aignan, France.
authors.forename: Amal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haida
authors.affiliation: IRMES (Institut de Recherche bioMédicale et d'Epidémiologie du Sport), INSEP, Paris, France ; Université Paris-Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Geoffroy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berthelot
authors.affiliation: IRMES (Institut de Recherche bioMédicale et d'Epidémiologie du Sport), INSEP, Paris, France ; Université Paris-Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France ; CIMS, Hôtel-Dieu, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Toussaint
mesh_terms: D054874:Athletic Performance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012420:Running