Survival of the fittest: retrospective cohort study of the longevity of Olympic medallists in the modern era

Clarke, Philip; Walter, Sven; Hayen, Andrew; Mallon, William J.; Heijmans, Jeroen; Studdert, David M.

doi:10.1136/bjsports-2015-e8308rep

Cited by 39 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Notably, a lower mortality has been demonstrated in endurance athletes as compared to the general population 26 with top-level athletes with Olympic medalists in endurance and mixed sports having a larger survival advantage over controls and medalists in power sports. 27…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The acute impact of an ultramarathon on right heart: A 12‐lead ECG study

D’Ascenzi

Anselmi

Ceccon

et al. 2019

Scandinavian Med Sci Sports

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Background Some concerns exist about possible detrimental effects on cardiac function of ultra‐endurance competitions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of an ultramarathon by comparing pre‐ and post‐race 12‐lead ECG features. Methods A total of 301 competitive athletes (mean age: 48 ± 9 years) running a 50‐km ultramarathon were analyzed. Twelve‐lead ECG was collected the day before the race and immediately at the finish line. According to the Italian law, athletes could have participated only after undergoing pre‐participation screening that ruled out the presence of an underlying heart disease. Results After the race a significant increase in P‐wave voltage (P < .001) and P‐wave duration (P < .001) was found as compared to pre‐race data with a higher percentage of athletes fulfilling the ECG criteria for right atrial enlargement (RAE; from 3% to 17%, P < .001). The presence of RAE post‐race significantly correlated with age, hours of training/week, and years of training and inversely with time at the finish line and the final position in the ranking. T‐wave and R‐wave amplitude (P < .001) and QTc‐interval duration (P < .001) significantly increased after the race. No significant differences in terms of supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmias were found. Conclusions A sizeable proportion of athletes running a 50‐km ultramarathon demonstrated post‐race ECG signs of right heart overload but no arrhythmias. This finding supports the hypothesis that ultra‐endurance races may induce transient right heart overload.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The acute impact of an ultramarathon on right heart: A 12‐lead ECG study

D’Ascenzi

Anselmi

Ceccon

et al. 2019

Scandinavian Med Sci Sports

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“…In a study by Clarke, Olympic medalists lived longer than the general population regardless of country. [ 11 ] Specifically, Olympic medalists lived an average of 2.8 years longer than controls of the general population. There was no survival advantage by type of medal (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) though the study had limited power to detect differences in these groups.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in life expectancy between olympic high jumpers, discus throwers, marathon and 100 meter runners

Lee-Heidenreich

Myers

2017

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil

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BackgroundSeveral studies have demonstrated that body habitus is associated with survival (life expectancy) time. We sought to determine if survival differed between elite athletes with a range of body types. We hypothesized that the survival would differ between athlete types and that ectomorph athletes would have longer survival than heavier athletes.MethodsFor each Olympics between 1928 and 1948 we identified the top (up to 20) Olympic male and female finishers in the high jump (HJ), discus throw, marathon, and 100-m run. We determined date of death using internet searches and calculated age-specific expected survival using published US life tables. We adjusted life expectancy for country of origin based on Global Burden of Disease data.ResultsWe identified a death date for 336 of 429 (78%) Olympic athletes including 229 males (55 marathon, 56 100-m 58 high jump, 60 discus), and 107 females (54 100-m, 25 high jump, 28 discus). Discus throwers were heaviest and marathon runners the lightest and oldest athletes (p < 0.01). Observed-expected survival was highest for high jumpers (7.1 years for women, 3.7 years for men) and marathon runners (4.7 years for men) and lowest for sprinters (−1.6 years for women and −0.9 years for men). In multivariate analysis controlling for age and gender, type of sport remained significantly associated with mortality with greatest survival for high jumpers and marathon runners compared to discus throwers and sprinters (p = 0.005). Controlling for weight, reduced the survival benefit of high jumpers over discus throwers, but had little effect on the survival benefit of marathon runners vs. sprinters.ConclusionSignificant differences in long term survival exist for different types of track and field Olympic athletes that were explained in part by weight.

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“…1 2 Compared with the general population, elite athletes seem to gain additional health benefits in the form of greater life expectancy and lower risk of disease and hospital admission. [3][4][5][6][7] However, concomitantly they run a higher risk of musculoskeletal disorders during and longterm disability after the end of their careers. 4 8-11 Systematic injury and illness surveillance is a prerequisite to effective protection of the health of the athletes, by providing essential information on the extent and incidence of injuries and illnesses occurring in sports.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sports injury and illness incidence in the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games: a prospective study of 2914 athletes from 92 countries

et al. 2019

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ObjectiveTo describe the incidence of injuries and illnesses sustained during the XXIII Olympic Winter Games, hosted by PyeongChang on 9–25 February 2018.MethodsWe recorded the daily number of athlete injuries and illnesses (1) through the reporting of all National Olympic Committee (NOC) medical teams and (2) in the polyclinic and medical venues by the PyeongChang 2018 medical staff.ResultsIn total, 2914 athletes (1210 women, 42%; 1704 men, 58%) from 92 NOCs were observed for occurrence of injury and illness. NOC and PyeongChang 2018 medical staff reported 376 injuries and 279 illnesses, equalling 12.6 injuries and 9.4 illnesses per 100 athletes over the 17-day period. Altogether, 12% of the athletes incurred at least one injury and 9% at least one illness. The injury incidence was highest in ski halfpipe (28%), snowboard cross (26%), ski cross (25%), snowboard slopestyle (21%) and aerials (20%), and lowest in Nordic combined, biathlon, snowboard slalom, moguls and cross-country skiing (2%–6%). Of the 376 injuries recorded, 33% and 13% were estimated to lead to ≥1 day and >7 days of absence from sport, respectively. The highest incidences of illness were recorded in biathlon (15%), curling (14%), bobsleigh (14%) and snowboard slalom (13%). Thirty per cent of the illnesses were expected to result in time loss, and 70% affected the respiratory system. Women suffered 61% more illnesses than men.ConclusionOverall, 12% of the athletes incurred at least one injury during the Games and 9% an illness, incidences that are similar to the Olympic Winter Games of 2010 and 2014.

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Survival of the fittest: retrospective cohort study of the longevity of Olympic medallists in the modern era

Cited by 39 publications

References 25 publications

The acute impact of an ultramarathon on right heart: A 12‐lead ECG study

The acute impact of an ultramarathon on right heart: A 12‐lead ECG study

Differences in life expectancy between olympic high jumpers, discus throwers, marathon and 100 meter runners

Sports injury and illness incidence in the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games: a prospective study of 2914 athletes from 92 countries

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