Longitudinal changes in body composition and water turnover in a world‐class male judo athlete: A case report

Limited longitudinal data on the physiology of world-class athletes in weight-category sports are currently available. This case report describes 3-year longitudinal changes in body composition and water turnover (WT) in a world-class male judo athlete during his second to fourth collegiate years. WT and total body water were assessed using the deuterium dilution method, with measurements conducted annually during these 3 years. Throughout the study period, even during periods of recovery from injury, the participant maintained a rigorous training load of 11 sessions/week by substituting intensive resistance training for judo. Between the second and third years, his body mass increased by 2.7 kg, with fat-free mass (FFM) accounting for approximately three-quarters of this gain (1.9 kg). Similar increases in body mass and FFM were observed between the second and fourth years. Seasonal fluctuations in WT accompanied these changes, reflecting varying training loads and competition schedules. This report provides a proof of concept for the high-precision monitoring of world-class athletes, thus offering valuable insights into body water dynamics and seasonal physiological variations for developing safer weight-management strategies in judo and other combat sports.