Physiological Features of Olympic-Distance Amateur Triathletes, as Well as Their Associations with Performance in Women and Men: A Cross–Sectional Study
José Geraldo Barbosa,
Claudio Andre Barbosa de Lira,
Rodrigo Luiz Vancini,
Vinicius Ribeiro dos Anjos,
Lavínia Vivan,
Aldo Seffrin,
Pedro Forte,
Katja Weiss,
Beat Knechtle,
Marilia Santos Andrade
Affiliations
José Geraldo Barbosa
Department of Physiology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo 04021-001, Brazil
Claudio Andre Barbosa de Lira
Human and Exercise Physiology Division, Faculty of Physical Education and Dance, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
Rodrigo Luiz Vancini
Center for Physical Education and Sports, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória 29075-210, Brazil
Vinicius Ribeiro dos Anjos
Department of Physiology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo 04021-001, Brazil
Lavínia Vivan
Department of Physiology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo 04021-001, Brazil
Aldo Seffrin
Department of Physiology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo 04021-001, Brazil
Pedro Forte
Department of Sports, Higher Institute of Educational Sciences of the Douro, 4560-547 Porto, Portugal
Katja Weiss
Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
Beat Knechtle
Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
Marilia Santos Andrade
Department of Physiology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo 04021-001, Brazil
The purpose of this study was to verify the physiological and anthropometric determinants of triathlon performance in female and male athletes. This study included 40 triathletes (20 male and 20 female). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was used to assess body composition, and an incremental cardiopulmonary test was used to assess physiological variables. A questionnaire about physical training habits was also completed by the athletes. Athletes competed in the Olympic-distance triathlon race. For the female group, the total race time can be predicted by V̇O2max (β = −131, t = −6.61, p p = 0.018), and triathlon experience (β = −886.1, t = −3.01, p = 0.009) (r2 = 0.825, p p = 0.010) and percentage of body fat (β = 53.6, t = 2.20, p = 0.042) (r2 = 0.578, p < 0.05). The variables that can predict the performance of men are not the same as those that can predict the triathlon performance of women. These data can help athletes and coaches develop performance-enhancing strategies.
