The age of peak performance in Ironman triathlon: a cross-sectional and longitudinal data analysis

Abstract

BackgroundThe aims of the present study were, firstly, to investigate in a cross-sectional analysis the age of peak Ironman performance within one calendar year in all qualifiers for Ironman Hawaii and Ironman Hawaii; secondly, to determine in a longitudinal analysis on a qualifier for Ironman Hawaii whether the age of peak Ironman performance and Ironman performance itself change across years; and thirdly, to determine the gender difference in performance.MethodsIn a cross-sectional analysis, the age of the top ten finishers for all qualifier races for Ironman Hawaii and Ironman Hawaii was determined in 2010. For a longitudinal analysis, the age and the performance of the annual top ten female and male finishers in a qualifier for Ironman Hawaii was determined in Ironman Switzerland between 1995 and 2010.ResultsIn 19 of the 20 analyzed triathlons held in 2010, there was no difference in the age of peak Ironman performance between women and men (p > 0.05). The only difference in the age of peak Ironman performance between genders was in ‘Ironman Canada’ where men were older than women (p = 0.023). For all 20 races, the age of peak Ironman performance was 32.2 ± 1.5 years for men and 33.0 ± 1.6 years for women (p > 0.05). In Ironman Switzerland, there was no difference in the age of peak Ironman performance between genders for top ten women and men from 1995 to 2010 (F = 0.06, p = 0.8). The mean age of top ten women and men was 31.4 ± 1.7 and 31.5 ± 1.7 years (Cohen's d = 0.06), respectively. The gender difference in performance in the three disciplines and for overall race time decreased significantly across years. Men and women improved overall race times by approximately 1.2 and 4.2 min/year, respectively.ConclusionsWomen and men peak at a similar age of 32–33 years in an Ironman triathlon with no gender difference. In a qualifier for Ironman Hawaii, the age of peak Ironman performance remained unchanged across years. In contrast, gender differences in performance in Ironman Switzerland decreased during the studied period, suggesting that elite female Ironman triathletes might still narrow the gender gap in the future.

What is the age for the fastest ultra-marathon performance in time-limited races from 6 h to 10 days?

“…For the Ironman distance (i.e. 3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling and 42 km running), women and men peaked at a similar age of ∼32-33 years with no sex difference (Stiefel et al 2013). For the Triple Iron ultratriathlon distance (i.e.…”

“…The age of peak athletic performance is important for any sportsman to plan a career. Previous studies have examined the age of peak athletic performance for ultra-endurance sports disciplines such as triathlon (Gallmann et al 2014;Knechtle et al 2012b;Stiefel et al 2013), swimming (Eichenberger et al 2013;Rüst et al 2014), and running (Rüst et al 2013).…”

Peak Fat Oxidation is not Independently Related to Ironman Performance in Women

“…The number of women participating in triathlon and competing at the Ironman distance has increased over the last years [21]. The research on performance parameters in female Ironman triathletes is still scarce and primarily focused on the anthropometric characteristics and training volume prior to race day [20,31]. We have recently shown in male triathletes that a faster overall Ironman performance is associated with a greater peak fat oxidation rate (PFO) independently of peak oxygen uptake (V O 2 peak), where the latter was the strongest individual predictor of overall Ironman performance.…”

Gender difference in cycling speed and age of winning performers in ultra-cycling – the 508-mile “Furnace Creek” from 1983 to 2012

“…The age of the best performance between 30-40 years for both women and men is a common finding in ultra-endurance athletes such as triathletes (Meili, Stiefel, Knechtle, Rüst, Rosemann, & Lepers, 2013), runners (Eichenberger, Knechtle, Rüst, Rosemann, & Lepers, 2012b;Zingg, Rüst, Lepers, Rosemann, & Knechtle, 2013b) and cyclists (Zingg, Knechtle, Rüst, Rosemann, & Lepers, 2013a). The top cyclists in the 'Furnace Creek 508' where therefore older than elite marathoners (Hunter, Stevens, Magennis, Skelton, & Fauth, 2011) but at a similar age as reported for mountain ultramarathoners (Eichenberger, Knechtle, Rüst, Rosemann, & Lepers, 2012b) and ultra-triathletes (Knechtle, Rüst, Knechtle, Rosemann, & Lepers, 2012b).…”