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The purpose of this study was to verify the physiological and anthropometric determinants of triathlon performance in female and male athletes. This study included 40 triathletes (20 male and 20 female). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was used to assess body composition, and an incremental cardiopulmonary test was used to assess physiological variables. A questionnaire about physical training habits was also completed by the athletes. Athletes competed in the Olympic-distance triathlon race. For the female group, the total race time can be predicted by V̇O2max (β = −131, t = −6.61, p < 0.001), lean mass (β = −61.4, t = −2.66, p = 0.018), and triathlon experience (β = −886.1, t = −3.01, p = 0.009) (r2 = 0.825, p < 0.05). For the male group, the total race time can be predicted by maximal aerobic speed (β = −294.1, t = −2.89, p = 0.010) and percentage of body fat (β = 53.6, t = 2.20, p = 0.042) (r2 = 0.578, p < 0.05). The variables that can predict the performance of men are not the same as those that can predict the triathlon performance of women. These data can help athletes and coaches develop performance-enhancing strategies.

Background: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the necessary social isolation and distancing measures - that were adopted to prevent spreading the virus, including the suspension of university classes - negatively impacted the mental health of young adults. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether returning to online classes, even not presential, during the social isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, affected the mental health of university students. Methods: Forty students (10 men and 30 women) (age, 22.3±3.8 years; body mass, 62.5±17.8 kg; height, 165.6±8.7cm) from undergraduate health courses participated in the study. The students answered a self-administered questionnaire designed to gather personal and quarantine information as well as information about the frequency of depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7) symptoms. The questionnaire was answered before and after the return to online classes. Results: There was a significantly lower frequency of depression symptoms after the return to online classes (Z = −2.27; p = 0.02). However, there was no difference in anxiety symptoms before and after returning to online classes (Z = −0.51; p = 0.61). Conclusions: Return to online classes positively impacted the mental health (decrease of frequency of depression symptoms) of university students. Future studies are needed to observe whether the changes observed after returning to school are maintained over time.

Male athletes tend to outperform female athletes in several endurance sports. Maximum cardiac output can be estimated by maximal oxygen consumption (V˙O2max), and it has been established that men present V˙O2max values about 20% higher than women. Although sex differences in V˙O2max have already been well studied, few studies have assessed sex differences with regard to muscle oxidative capacity. The aim of this study was to compare aerobic muscle quality, accessed by V˙O2max and adjusted by lower limb lean mass, between male and female amateur triathletes. The study also aimed to compare sex differences according to V˙O2 submaximal values assessed at ventilatory thresholds. A total of 57 participants (23 women and 34 men), who had been training for Olympic-distance triathlon races, underwent body composition evaluation by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and performed a cardiorespiratory maximal test on a treadmill. Male athletes had significantly higher V˙O2max, both absolutely and when adjusted to body mass. Conversely, when V˙O2max was adjusted for lean mass, there was no significant difference between sexes. The same was observed at submaximal exercise intensities. In conclusion, differences in V˙O2max adjusted to body mass but not lean mass may explain, at least in part, sex differences in performance in triathlons, marathons, cycling, and other endurance sports.

Performance in endurance sports decreases with aging, which has been primarily attributed to cardiovascular and musculoskeletal aging; however, there is still no clear information on the factors that are most affected by aging. The aim of this study was to compare two groups of runners (< 50 and > 50 years of age) according to their absolute, weight-adjusted maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max), lower limb lean mass-adjusted V̇O2max, ventilatory threshold, and respiratory compensation point (RCP). A total of 78 male recreational long-distance runners were divided into Group 1 (38.12 ± 6.87 years) and Group 2 (57.55 ± 6.14 years). Participants were evaluated for body composition, V̇O2max, VT, and RCP. Group 1 showed higher absolute and body mass-adjusted V̇O2max (4.60 ± 0.57 l·min−1 and 61.95 ± 8.25 ml·kg−1·min−1, respectively) than Group 2 (3.77 ± 0.56 l·min−1 and 51.50 ± 10.22 ml·kg−1·min−1, respectively), indicating a significant difference (p < 0.001, d =  − 1.46 and p < 0.001, d =  − 1.16). Correspondingly, Group 1 showed a significantly higher lower limb lean mass–adjusted V̇O2max (251.72 ± 29.60 ml·kgLM−1·min−1) than Group 2 (226.36 ± 43.94 ml·kgLM−1·min−1) (p = 0.008, d =  − 0.71). VT (%V̇O2max) (p = 0.19, d = 0.19) and RCP (%V̇O2max) (p = 0.24, d = 0.22) did not differ between the groups. These findings suggest that both variables that are limited by central or peripheral conditions are negatively affected by aging, but the magnitude of the effect is higher in variables limited by central conditions. These results contribute to our understanding of how aging affects master runners.