Classification of selected cardiopulmonary variables of elite athletes of different age, gender, and disciplines during incremental exercise testing

Incremental exercise testing is frequently used as a tool for evaluating determinants of endurance performance. The available reference values for the peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), % of VO2peak, running speed at the lactate threshold (vLT), running economy (RE), and maximal running speed (vpeak) for different age, gender, and disciplines are not sufficient for the elite athletic population. The key variables of 491 young athletes (age range 12–21 years; 250 males, 241 females) assessed during a running step test protocol (2.4 m s−1; increase 0.4 m s−1 5 min−1) were analysed in five subgroups, which were related to combat-, team-, endurance-, sprint- and power-, and racquet-related disciplines. Compared with female athletes, male athletes achieved a higher vpeak (P = 0.004). The body mass, lean body mass, height, abs. VO2peak (ml min−1), rel. VO2peak (ml kg−1 min−1), rel. VO2peak (ml min−1 kg−0.75), and RE were higher in the male participants compared with the females (P 

This study classifies cardiopulmonary variables in elite athletes across various disciplines.