Age-related decrease in performance of male masters athletes in sprint, sprint–endurance, and endurance events

A physiological comparison of the new-over 70 years of age-marathon record holder and his predecessor: A case report

Purpose: This study assessed the body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, fiber type and mitochondrial function, and training characteristics of a 71-year-old runner who broke the world record marathon of the men's 70-74 age category and held several other world records. The values were compared to those of the previous world-record holder. Methods: Body fat percentage was assessed using air-displacement plethysmography. V ˙ O 2 max , running economy, and maximum heart rate were measured during treadmill running. Muscle fiber typology and mitochondrial function were evaluated using a muscle biopsy. Results: Body fat percentage was 13.5%, V ˙ O 2 max was 46.6 ml kg^-1 min^-1, and maximum heartrate was 160 beats∙min^-1. At the marathon pace (14.5 km h^-1), his running economy was 170.5 ml kg^-1 km^-1. The gas exchange threshold and respiratory compensation point occurred at 75.7% and 93.9% of the V ˙ O 2 max , i.e., 13 km h^-1 and 15 km h^-1, respectively. The oxygen uptake at the marathon pace corresponded to 88.5% of V ˙ O 2 max . Vastus lateralis fiber content was 90.3% type I and 9.7% type II. Average distance was 139 km∙w^-1 in the year prior to the record. Conclusion: The 71-year-old world-record holder marathon showed a relatively similar V ˙ O 2 max , lower percentage of V ˙ O 2 max at marathon pace, but a substantially better running economy than his predecessor. The better running economy may result from an almost double weekly training volume compared to the predecessor and a high type I fiber content. He trained every day in the last ∼1.5 years and achieved international performance in his age group category with a small (<5% per decade) age-related decline in marathon performance.

Physiological, Spatiotemporal, Anthropometric, Training, and Performance Characteristics of a 75-Year-Old Multiple World Record Holder Middle-Distance Runner

PURPOSE

This study assessed the cardiorespiratory capacity, anaerobic speed reserve, and anthropometric and spatiotemporal variables of a 75-year-old world-class middle-distance runner who previously obtained several European and world records in the age categories of 60-70 years, achieved 13 European titles and 15 world champion titles, and also holds several European records for the 75-year-old category.

METHODS

Heart rate, oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide production, ventilation, step frequency, contact time, and velocity at maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) were measured during treadmill running. Maximal sprinting speed was assessed during track sprinting and used to compute anaerobic speed reserve. Body fat percentage was assessed using air displacement plethysmography.

RESULTS

Body fat percentage was 8.6%, VO2max was 50.5 mL·kg-1·min-1, maximal ventilation was 141 L·min-1, maximum heart rate was 164 beats·min-1, maximum respiratory exchange ratio was 1.18, and velocity at VO2max was 16.7 km·h-1. The average stride frequency and contact time during the last 30 seconds of the 4-minute run at 10 km·h-1 were 171 steps·min-1 and 241 ms and 187 steps·min-1 and 190 ms in the last 40 seconds at 17 km·h-1, respectively. The anaerobic speed reserve was 11.4 km·h-1, corresponding to an anaerobic speed reserve ratio of 1.68.

CONCLUSION

This 75-year-old runner has an exceptionally high VO2max and anaerobic speed reserve ratio. In addition, his resilience to injuries, possibly due to a relatively high volume of easy runs, enabled him to sustain regular training since his 50s and achieve international performance in his age group.

Investigating External and Internal Loads in Male Older Adult Basketball Players during Official Games

This study aimed at assessing the external [Player Load (PL), acceleration (ACC), changes of direction (COD), JUMP, and their relative values (PL/min; ACC/min; COD/min and JUMP/min)] and internal [percentage of the peak heart rate (%HRpeak) and the training load calculated with the session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) method (sRPE-load)] loads of masters (senior citizen) basketball players during official games. Thirteen male basketball masters players (age: 66.6 ± 2.1 years; body mass: 89.9 ± 8.7 kg; stature: 183.7 ± 4.6 cm) were monitored during an official Lietuvos Krepsinio Veteranu Lyga (LKVL) 65-year game. Beside descriptive analysis, a chi-square goodness of fit test was adopted to assess the differences in the distribution within JUMP, ACC and COD classes of intensities (i.e., low, medium and high). The results revealed PL = 269.9 ± 83.3 AU and PL/min = 6.54 ± 1.29 AU/min. Moreover, significant differences (p < 0.001) in the distribution of the intensity classes were found for JUMP, ACC, and COD, with the lowest intensities as the most frequent. Finally, HRpeak = 81.7 ± 8.1% and sRPE-load = 148.9 ± 69.7 AU were found, with sRPE = ~3 AU. In conclusion, a low external load during an official basketball game was found compared to other basketball populations. Moreover, a high objective internal load did not correspond to a low perceived demand, which might increase the training adherence and motivation during long-term studies.

Acceleration of Longitudinal Track and Field Performance Declines in Athletes Who Still Compete at the Age of 100 Years

While physical performance decline rates accelerate after around the age of 70 years, longitudinal athletic performance trends in athletes older than 95 years are unknown. We hypothesized a further accelerated decline in human performance in athletes who still perform at the age of 100 years. To investigate this, longitudinal data of all athletes with results at or over the age of 100 years were collected from the “World Master Rankings” data base spanning 2006–2019 (138 results from 42 athletes; 5 women, 37 men; maximum 105 years) and compared to previously published longitudinal data from 80- to 96-year-old athletes from Sweden (1,134 results from 374 athletes). Regression statistics were used to compare performance decline rates between disciplines and age groups. On average, the individual decline rate of the centenarian group was 2.53 times as steep (100 m: 8.22x; long jump: 0.82x; shot put: 1.61x; discus throw: 1.04x; javelin throw: 0.98x) as that seen in non-centenarians. The steepest increase in decline was found in the 100-m sprint (t-test: p < 0.05, no sign. difference in the other disciplines). The pooled regression statistics of the centenarians are: 100 m: R = 0.57, p = 0.004; long jump: R = 0.90, p < 0.001; shot put: R = 0.65, p < 0.001; discus throw: R = 0.73, p < 0.001; javelin throw: R = 0.68, p < 0.001. This first longitudinal dataset of performance decline rates of athletes who still compete at 100 years and older in five athletics disciplines shows that there is no performance plateau after the age of 90, but rather a further acceleration of the performance decline.

Age-related Decline in Renal Function is Attenuated in Master Athletes

This study analyzed the kidney function and biomarkers of health in lifelong-trained sprinters and endurance runners, and compared them to untrained aged-matched and young controls. Sixty-two men (21-66 yr.) were recruited and allocated as master athletes from sprints (n=25), master athletes from endurance events (n=8), untrained middle-aged (n=14) and young controls (n=15). Participants underwent anamnesis, anthropometric measures and blood sampling for biochemical analyses of klotho, FGF23 and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Master sprinters presented better kidney function in relation to endurance athletes and their untrained peers (P<0.0001). A number of biochemical variables were observed that negatively (i. e., GDF-15, TGF-Beta, IL-18) or positively (i. e., klotho/FGF23 ratio and sestrin-2) correlated with eGFR. Sestrin-2 presented the strongest association with eGFR (r=0.5, P=0.03). Results also revealed that lifelong-trained individuals presented the highest probability of having better values for cystatin C and thus an estimated glomerular filtration rate that was 37-49% higher than untrained peers. Master sprinters presented better kidney function in relation to endurance athletes and middle-aged untrained peers. Sestrin-2 may play a role in exercise-induced kidney function protection.

Why Are Masters Sprinters Slower Than Their Younger Counterparts? Physiological, Biomechanical, and Motor Control Related Implications for Training Program Design

Elite sprint performances typically peak during an athlete's 20s and decline thereafter with age. The mechanisms underpinning this sprint performance decline are often reported to be strength-based in nature with reductions in strength capacities driving increases in ground contact time and decreases in stride lengths and frequency. However, an as-of-yet underexplored aspect of Masters sprint performance is that of age-related degradation in neuromuscular infrastructure, which manifests as a decline in both strength and movement coordination. Here, the authors explore reductions in sprint performance in Masters athletes in a holistic fashion, blending discussion of strength and power changes with neuromuscular alterations along with mechanical and technical age-related alterations. In doing so, the authors provide recommendations to Masters sprinters-and the aging population, in general-as to how best to support sprint ability and general function with age, identifying nutritional interventions that support performance and function and suggesting useful programming strategies and injury-reduction techniques.