title: Historical Improvement in Speed Skating Economy.
abstract: Half the improvement in 1500-m speed-skating world records can be explained by technological innovations and the other half by athletic improvement. It is hypothesized that improved skating economy is accountable for much of the athletic improvement.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine skating economy in contemporary athletes and to evaluate the change in economy over the years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Contemporary skaters of the Dutch national junior team (n = 8) skated 3 bouts of 6 laps at submaximal velocity, from which skating economy was calculated (in mL O2・ kg-1・ km-1). A literature search provided historic data on skating velocity and submaximal V̇O2(in mL ・ kg-1・ min-1), from which skating economy was determined. The association between year and skating economy was determined using linear-regression analysis. Correcting the change in economy for technological innovations resulted in an estimate of the association between year and economy due to athletic improvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A mean (± SD) skating economy of 73.4 ± 6.4 mL O2・ kg-1・ km-1was found in contemporary athletes. Skating economy improved significantly over the historical time frame (-0.57 mL O2・ kg-1・ km-1・ y-1, 95% confidence interval [-0.84, -0.31]). In the final regression model for the klapskate era, with altitude as confounder, skating economy improved with a nonsignificant -0.58 mL O2・ kg-1・ km-1・ y-1([-1.19, 0.035]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Skating economy was 73.4 ± 6.4 mL O2・ kg-1・ km-1in contemporary athletes and improved over the past ~50 y. The association between year and skating economy due to athletic improvement, for the klapskate era, approached significance, suggesting a possible improvement in economy over these years.
authors.forename: Dionne A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Noordhof
authors.forename: Elmy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Tok
authors.forename: Florentine S J G M
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Joosten
authors.forename: Florentina J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Hettinga
authors.forename: Marco J M
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hoozemans
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Jos J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: de Koning
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D004526:Efficiency / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012861:Skating / Q000502:physiology*; D019876:Sports Equipment
keywords: aerobic capacity; cyclic sports; efficiency; performance