Exceptional exercise capacity in a late bloomer octogenarian triathlete

Maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O<inf>2max</inf>) gradually declines across the lifespan. However, little is known about the octogenarians. This is a knowledge gap given that individuals living >80 years old is the fastest expanding age-group world-wide. The increase in the elderly population has generated greater awareness in healthy ageing including psychosocial, physical, and cognitive domains, all of which benefit from engagement in physical activity or sport. In the present article are reported characteristics of an octogenarian man (GM), starting training for triathlon when he was 75 years old. GM performed an incremental Cardiopulmonary Treadmill-Running Exercise Test (CPX). A competitive 5-day consecutive triathlon event (sprint distance on days 1, 3, 4, 5 and Olympic distance on day 2) was monitored using an advanced smartwatch. Between 2021 and 2022, he trained for 10-to-12 hours/week, and participated in 59 and 39 competitions, respectively. The CPX showed a V̇O<inf>2max</inf> of 39.8 mL·min