Anaerobic and aerobic power of top athletes

Abstract

In this study the alactic anaerobic and aerobic power of top level sprinters, long-distance runners, and untrained students were compared. Maximal oxygen uptake was measured during a progressive test on a treadmill. The anaerobic power was estimated according to a newly developed bicycle ergometer technique. As reported elsewhere, the maximal oxygen uptake is very high in twelfe long-distance runners (77.6±2.7 ml/kg·min⁻¹) whereas the maximal oxygen uptake of six sprinters amounts to 60.1±5.9 ml/kg·min⁻¹. The average alactic anaerobic power of a control group of 32 students was 710 W or 10.1±1.2 W/kg. Significantly lower results were obtained by long-distance runners (551 W or 8.93 W/kg) whereas significantly higher results were obtained by sprinters (1,021 W or 14.16 W/kg). In top level athletes, but not in the control group, a negative relationship was found between aerobic power and anaerobic power.