Toward the Limits of Human Aging Physiology: Characteristics of the 50-, 60-, and 70-yr+ Male Indoor Rowing World Champions.

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the physiological, power-duration, nutritional intake and training characteristics of the recent lightweight (- 75 kg) 50+-, 60+-, and 70-yr+ world champion indoor rowers.

Methods: Laboratory assessments, undertaken over two visits, examined body composition, pulmonary function, blood lactate/ventilatory landmarks, efficiency, fat/carbohydrate oxidation, primary component time-constant to steady state (τ pc ), and peak oxygen consumption (V̇O 2peak ). Training, performance, and nutritional intake were also reported.

Results: The athletes' world championship 2000 m times were 06:34.8, 06:44.0, and 07:15.2, respectively. Their training distribution could be considered pyramidal, with ≈65% in the moderate domain, ≈30% in heavy/severe domains, and ≈5% in the extreme domain (rowing ≈67 km·wk -1 ). The athletes demonstrated highly developed attributes such as fat-free mass (63.4-68.1 kg), forced vital capacity (4.9-5.5 L), τ PC (13.8-17.4 s), peak power output (550-797 W), V̇O 2peak (56.2-44.7 mL·kg·min -1 ), and critical power (217-288 W). Comparisons with young Olympic champion rowers suggest that age-related 2000-m performance mean power declines of -21.6% to -41.4% in world champions ≈25, 35, and 45 yr older may be predominantly driven by "central" factors (e.g., V̇O 2peak , critical power; -18.1% to -43.8%). In contrast, "peripheral" factors (e.g., gross efficiency, τPC ; +6.1% to -25.1%) seem to display notable preservation despite aging, aligning closely with values seen in young Olympic champions.

Conclusions: These results challenge conventional perspectives of age-related physiological capacities and decline trajectories. They also suggest that, commensurate with adequate training and nutritional provision, various physiologic systems can exhibit remarkable adaptability and sustain exceptionally high function during aging. Finally, large differences among the athletes' power-duration and physiological characteristics imply that achieving world-class rowing performance can be predicated by diverse cardiovascular, metabolic, and neuromuscular attributes.