Aortic root dilation beyond specific thresholds (>40 mm in men, >34 mm in women) in athletes is likely pathological rather than physiological, mandating clinical surveillance.
An aortic root dimension >40 mm in highly conditioned male athletes (and >34 mm in female athletes) is uncommon, is unlikely to represent the physiological consequence of exercise training, and is most likely an expression of a pathological condition, mandating close clinical surveillance.
Pelliccia et al. (Tue,) studied this question.