title: Physiological characteristics of an aging Olympic athlete.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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 (VO2 max), 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), VO2 max 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 VO2 max 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 athlete to compete at the highest level for almost two decades.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, DENMARK; and 2Team Denmark, House of Sport, Brondby, DENMARK.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nybo
authors.forename: Jakob F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fritzdorf
authors.forename: Nikolai B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Nordsborg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D004452:Echocardiography; D004526:Efficiency; D016552:Ergometry; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid