Key result
Over 12 years, elite rowers maintained a V̇O2max of ~7 l·min−1 despite a maximal heart rate decline of ~0.5 beats·year−1, compensated by an oxygen pulse increase of ~1 ml O2·beat−1 per year.
Population
2 Olympic champion rowers, monitored from junior level
Design
Case_series
Follow-up
12 years
Authors
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Case report of preserved elite performance suggests compensatory adaptations in masters athletes; hypothesis-generating and requires larger prospective confirmation.
Case Report (n=2)
Long-term physiological monitoring of elite rowers shows that while V̇O2max plateaus around age 22, compensatory changes in stroke volume (oxygen pulse) offset age-related declines in maximal heart rate to maintain elite performance.
Mikulić et al. (2017) reported a case report. Elite rowing training and aging was evaluated on Physiological and performance data (V̇O2max, maximal heart rate, oxygen pulse, power output). Over 12 years, elite rowers maintained a V̇O2max of ~7 l·min−1 despite a maximal heart rate decline of ~0.5 beats·year−1, compensated by an oxygen pulse increase of ~1 ml O2·beat−1 per year.
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