PHYSIOLOGICAL-CHARACTERISTICS AND PERFORMANCE OF TOP US BIATHLETES

Success in biathlon involves skiing fast and shooting accurately. The purpose of this study was to determine whether physiological laborator y Lest results relate to success in biathlon. Tests included treadmill run and double-pole lactate profile and VO2peak tests, and a double-p ole peak power test (UBP). 1993 National Points Rank (NR), racing ski time (ST), and shooting percentage (SP) from 1993 World Team Trials an d laboratory test results (1993; N = 11 males, 10 females) were examin ed. Of athletes tested, six males and six females were top 10 U.S. ran ked. Significance was identified between NR and ST (males, r = -0.88; females, r = -0.91). NR and SP were related for females (r = 0.75). Ma ximum run time during the VO2peak test was the only parameter related to NR (r = 0.72) or ST (r = -0.80) for males. Significance was identif ied for an uphill I km on snow double-pole time trial to NR (r = -0.84 ) and SP (r = -0.79) (subgroup; N = 8 males). For females, NR was rela ted to running VO2peak (r = 0.81) and UBP (r = 0.95). Double-pole and running VO2peak were related to SP for women. This study suggests that SP is more important to NR for females than for males, and gender-spe cific tests might better predict success in elite biathlon skiers.