Elite Athlete Status Research Articles

Variations in Personality Traits Among Top Judo Referees from 2018 to 2022 Based on Gender Differences

The personality traits of top judo referees are crucial for fair decision-making in elite competitions, shaping the experience for athletes, coaches, and spectators. This study examines potential differences in personality traits among 63 referees from the World Judo Tour between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2022. Factors analyzed include completing the IJF Academy course Level 1, elite athlete status, number of officiated events, performance ratings, and participation in the Olympic or Paralympic Games. Our research shows that older referees tend to exhibit greater extraversion, whereas less experienced officials show lower levels of this trait. Referees with limited experience generally demonstrate higher agreeableness than their more experienced counterparts. Female referees and those with top performance ratings display greater conscientiousness than male referees. Completing the IJF Academy course is associated with lower neuroticism, while lower performance ratings are linked to higher neuroticism. Openness tends to decrease with increased officiating experience, with less experienced referees showing higher levels of this trait. In conclusion, competitive experience, training completion, and officiating tenure are associated with specific personality traits among judo referees, highlighting the importance of continuous training for effective officiating. The analysis of personality traits revealed no statistically significant differences between male and female referees in the dimensions measured by the BFI (Big Five Inventory). This indicates that the levels of extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness were similar for both genders, with no significant variation in how these traits were expressed.

Uses and abuses of the concept of race in genomics of sport performance and sport-related traumatic brain injury: epistemological and ethical considerations

ABSTRACT In this article, we tackle the epistemological and ethical issues related to the use of race concepts in the genomics of sport performance and sport-related concussion (SRC). In the first part of the article, we show how the concept of race is ubiquitous in scientific literature, besides the fact that ‘race’ as other analogous population descriptors like ‘ancestry’ and ‘continent’ carry ancestral genetic heterogeneity and therefore they cannot be used to infer any kind of genetic or physiological property. Then, we investigate the question of whether genomics research focusing on racial categories and race-specific genes of sport performance and of risk of health outcomes due to repetitive head impacts (RHI) is justified from an epistemological point of view, arguing that it is not; we show that the evidence supporting the existence of genetic variants determining an elite athlete status or a predisposition to health outcomes after SRC is scarce, and the use of racial categories (e.g. African or Black, Caucasian or White, Asian, etc.) as proxies for genetic variants associated with an elite athlete status/a predisposition to health outcomes after SRC is ill-conceived. In the second part of the article, we analyze the main ethical issues concerning the reification of race concepts in sport genomics, also considering the more general issue of the ethical and social impact of the use of a genetic framework in the explanation of individual differences in sport performance and SRC.

How elite athletes with a spinal cord injury sweat - An exploratory observational study

Introduction
 Sweat response and thermoregulation in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) may be impaired depending on the level and completeness of the lesion (Grossmann et al., 2021; Price, 2006). This is particularly problematic for athletes and may ultimately lead to decreased performance. This exploratory observational study collected data on sweat response in elite athletes with SCI during exercise. We also explored the feasibility of collecting these data in the field.
 Methods:
 Elite athletes with SCI were measured during indoor performance tests (n = 10) or training sessions (n = 5). Parameters collected included core body temperature (Tc), heart rate, urine specific gravity, fluid intake, sweat rate, and sweat electrolyte concentration. Differences in parameters were evaluated for sex, lesion level (tetraplegia versus paraplegia), motor impairment (complete versus incomplete), and sport type (endurance versus team/skill).
 Results
 15 athletes (median (Q1-Q3) age 30 (28-36) years, three females, 11 with a complete lesion) were included. Measurements could be successfully performed on most athletes. Average Tc was 37.7 (37.3-37.8) °C and average heart rate 126 (100-146) bpm. Dehydration, defined as a urine specific gravity > 1.020 ng/ml, was prevalent in six athletes before exercise and in five athletes after exercise. Fluid intake and electrolyte concentrations were similar between groups. Sweat rate was lower in athletes with a tetraplegia (-0.04 (-0.23-0.37) versus 0.51 (0.38-0.73) l/h, p = 0.02, r = 0.60) and in team/skill athletes (0.12 (-0.13-0.33) versus 0.52 (0.42-0.73) l/h, p = 0.008, r = 0.68).
 Discussion/Conclusion
 The measurement methods used in this study are straightforward and relatively easy to perform in the field. Our results suggest that there is room for improvement in the hydration status of elite athletes with SCI, especially prior to exercise. Optimization of fluid intake and thermoregulation requires personalized strategies based on lesion characteristics and type of sport.
 References
 Grossmann, F., Flueck, J. L., Perret, C., Meeusen, R., & Roelands, B. (2021). The thermoregulatory and thermal responses of individuals with a spinal cord injury during exercise, acclimation and by using cooling strategies – A systematic review. Frontiers in Physiology, 12, Article 636997. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.636997
 Price, M. J. (2006). Thermoregulation during exercise in individuals with spinal cord injuries. Sports Medicine, 36(10), 863-879. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200636100-00005

Genetic variants in myostatin and its receptors promote elite athlete status

BackgroundWhile product of the myostatin gene (MSTN) is an important factor influencing muscle growth, which is well confirmed in nonhuman species, it has not been clearly confirmed whether MSTN expression influences interindividual differences in skeletal muscle mass, affects posttraining changes, or plays a role in the age-related loss of muscle mass and function in humans. Although the inconclusive results are usually explained by ethnic differences and the low frequency of some alleles, it is possible that the role of receptors (ACVR2A and ACVR2B) that affect the biological activity of myostatin is crucial. Therefore, we investigated the sequences of the MSTN, ACVR2A, and ACVR2B genes and determined the interaction between allelic variants and athletic performance and competition level in the Caucasian population. One hundred-two athletes were recruited for the sequencing study, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed. Second, 330 athletes and 365 controls were included, and real-time PCR was performed.ResultsThe sequence analysis revealed two polymorphisms relatively common in the athlete cohort, and the alternate allele showed overrepresentation in athletes: MSTN rs11333758 and ACVR2A rs3764955. Regarding the polymorphic site MSTN rs11333758, there was a significant overrepresentation of the –/– genotype in all high-elite and mixed-sport high-elite athletes. Carriers of the ACVR2A rs3764955 CC and GG genotypes were more likely to be elite and high-elite athletes. In addition, carriers of the CC genotype were more likely to be in the mixed-sport subelite group. The gene‒gene interaction analysis revealed that mixed-sport high elite athletes showed significant underrepresentation of the ACVR2A rs3764955 GC - MSTN rs11333758 AA genotype combination. In the same group, we observed a significant overrepresentation of the ACVR2A rs3764955 GC - MSTN rs11333758 –/– and the ACVR2A rs3764955 CC - MSTN rs11333758 –/– genotype combinations.ConclusionsWe showed that the specific genotypes of the MSTN rs11333758 and ACVR2A rs3764955, either individually or in gene‒gene combination, are significantly associated with athletes’ competition level in the Polish population, especially in the mixed-sports athlete group. Thus, although further research is required, these polymorphisms, alone or in combination with other polymorphisms, are among the numerous candidates that could explain individual variations in muscle phenotypes.

Identity in elite level disability sport: a systematic review and meta-study of qualitative research

ABSTRACT This meta-study evaluated qualitative identity literature within elite disabled sport. Following a systematic search of EBSCO SPORTDiscus, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science, nine articles met the inclusion criteria. The meta-study examined how identity was framed from participant or author perspectives, employing narrative analysis to understand the participant stories and broader storylines crafted by authors. Two distinct narratives were co-constructed; Re-birth: characterising athlete identity experiences and how overcoming career challenges developed traits necessary for elite athlete status, and Tragedy: how authors’ interpretations indicated that although athletes achieved personal sporting success, the ‘bigger battle’ of how disability was presented within society remained. The Re-birth and Tragedy narratives update the prospective gap between how elite disability athletes story their experiences and their framing within society.

Elite athlete status, gender and mitchell sports classification strongly influence native t1 mapping times

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Amsterdam Movement Sciences and the Dutch Olympic Committee. Background Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) T1 mapping is an established tool for tissue characterisation. This is of particular interest in athletes as differentiation of the ‘grey zone’ between physiological adaptation to sports and pathology can be highly challenging. To correctly interpret individual T1 times, T1 times are conventionally compared to normal values derived from healthy controls. However, whether these values can be applied to elite athletes with different types of cardiac adaptation is unknown. Purpose To determine differences in native T1 times between elite athletes and healthy non-athletic controls and to determine differences in athletes with different types of cardiac remodelling. Methods This is a cross-sectional analysis of elite athletes included in the ELITE cohort. ELITE collects the preparticipation cardiovascular screenings data from all athletes that perform at the highest national, international and/or Olympic level in the Netherlands. All athletes were sixteen years or older. The screening includes cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging on a Siemens Avanto fit 1.5T machine with cine-imaging, delayed hyperenhancement and a three-pulse shortened modified look-locker inversion recovery 5(3)3 sequence. For this analysis, all athletes with a history of cardiovascular disease or pathological late gadolinium enhancement were excluded. Athletes were classified according to the Mitchell Sports Classification based on the intensity (low (L) / moderate (M) / high (H)) of the dynamic (D) and static components (S). Native- and post-contrast T1 mapping times were calculated by manually tracing the endocardial- and epicardial contours. Results A total of 117 elite athletes (44% women; mean age 26±6.5; Mitchell sports classification: 47 HS/HD, 8 HS/LD, 5 HS/MD, 36 LS/HD, 16 MS/HD, 3 MS/MD, 3 missing) and 48 healthy non-athletic controls (54% women; mean age 39±15.1). Men had lower t1 times compared to women, both in athletes (949ms vs 964ms, p<0.05) and controls (969ms vs 1000ms, p<0.05). Moreover, elite athletes had a lower global native T1 time compared to healthy non-athletic controls (955 vs 983, p<0.05). There were significant differences in native T1 time between the Mitchel Sport classifications (Kruskal-Wallis p<0.05); left ventricular mass (LVM) (R=-0.47, p<0.05) and LVM divided by left ventricular end-diastolic volume (R=-0.4, p<0.05) were both negatively correlated with native T1 mapping time. Conclusion Men demonstrate markedly shorter T1 times compared to women in both athletes and controls. Moreover, native T1 times were associated with markers for cardiac remodelling. Sex- and athlete-specific characteristics should be taken into account when interpreting T1 times in athletes.

ABORDAGENS DO USO DO HUMOR EM TREINAMENTOS E COMPETIÇÕES DE BOXE: UMA PERSPECTIVA PSİCOLÓGİCA

ABSTRACT Introduction: It is important to try to understand the psychology of elite-level athletes. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of humor on boxers from a psychological perspective. Methods: Thirteen elite boxers participated in the study. The study was carried out using the phenomenology approach, which is one of the qualitative research methods. As a data collection tool, semi-structured interviews were conducted in order to obtain in-depth and detailed data from the participants. Content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative research data. Results: Our results showed that the humor approach in training or competition environments contributes positively to coping with stress by providing positive emotions such as happiness and joy in athletes. Conclusions: The effective and balanced use of humor not only provides positive emotions and socialization in boxers, but also reduces negative emotions such as depression, stress, and anxiety. a) Study Design: Qualitative research methods from a phenomenology approach were used in the design. b) Clinical Relevance Statement: This study showed that there is a need for programs related to in-depth evaluation of the psychosocial status of elite athletes. It should be emphasized that besides physical evaluations, psychological evaluation and support are important. Level of evidence I; Therapeutic Studies- Investigating the Results of Treatment.

Genotype Distribution of the ACTN3 p.R577X Polymorphism in Elite Badminton Players: A Preliminary Study.

α-Actinin-3 is a protein with a structural role at the sarcomeric Z-line in skeletal muscle. As it is only present in fast-type muscle fibers, α-actinin-3 is considered a key mechanical component to produce high-intensity muscle contractions and to withstand external tension applied to the skeletal muscle. α-Actinin-3 is encoded by the gene ACTN3, which has a single-nucleotide polymorphism (p.R577X; rs1815739) that affects the expression of α-actinin-3 due to the presence of a stop codon. Individuals homozygous for the 577R allele (i.e., RR genotype) and RX heterozygotes express functional α-actinin-3, while those homozygous for the 577X (i.e., XX genotype) express a non-functional protein. There is ample evidence to support the associations between the ACTN3 genotype and athletic performance, with higher frequencies of the 577R allele in elite and professional sprint and power athletes than in control populations. This suggests a beneficial influence of possessing functional α-actinin-3 to become an elite athlete in power-based disciplines. However, no previous investigation has determined the frequency of the ACTN3 genotypes in elite badminton players, despite this sport being characterized by high-intensity actions of intermittent nature such as changes of direction, accelerations, jumps and smashes. The purpose of this study was to analyze ACTN3 R577X genotype frequencies in professional badminton players to establish whether this polymorphism is associated with elite athlete status. A total of 53 European Caucasian professional badminton players competing in the 2018 European Badminton Championships volunteered to participate in the study. Thirty-one were men (26.2 ± 4.4 years) and twenty-two were women (23.4 ± 4.5 years). Chi-squared tests were used to analyze the differences in the distribution of ACTN3 genotypes (RR, RX and XX) between categories and sexes. The ACTN3 RR genotype was the most frequent in the sample of professional badminton players (RR = 49.1%, RX = 22.6% and XX = 28.3%). None of the badminton players ranked in the world's top ten possessed the XX genotype (RX = 60%, RR = 40%). The distribution of the ACTN3 genotypes was similar between male and female professional badminton players (men: RR = 45.2%, RX = 25.8% and XX = 29.0%; women: RR = 54.5%, RX = 18.2% and XX = 27.3%; χ2 = 0.58; p = 0.750). The distribution of the ACTN3 genotypes in badminton players was different from the 1000 genome database for the European population (χ2 = 15.5; p < 0.001), with an overrepresentation of the RR genotype (p < 0.05) and an underrepresentation of the RX genotype (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the expression of functional α-actinin-3, associated with RR and RX genotypes in the ACTN3 gene may confer an advantage for reaching the status of elite athlete in badminton, and especially the world's top-ten ranking. Large-scale studies with different ethnic backgrounds are needed to confirm the association of the R allele of ACTN3 with badminton performance.

Gene variants previously associated with reduced soft-tissue injury risk: Part 2 – Polygenic associations with elite status in Rugby

ABSTRACT Part 1 of this genetic association series highlighted several genetic variants independently associated with elite status in rugby. However, it is highly likely that the genetic influence on elite status is polygenic due to the interaction of multiple genes. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether polygenic profiles of elite rugby athletes differed from non-athletes utilising 13 genetic polymorphisms previously associated with tendon/ligament injury. Total genotype score (TGS) was calculated and multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) was used to calculate SNP-SNP epistasis interactions. Based on our elite rugby data from Part 1, mean TGS was significantly higher in elite rugby athletes (52.1 ± 10.7) than non-athletes (48.7 ± 10.8). There were more elite rugby athletes (54%) within the upper TGS quartile, and fewer (46%) within the lower quartile, compared to non-athletes (31% and 69%, respectively; P = 5·10−5), and the TGS was able to distinguish between elite rugby athletes and non-athletes (area under the curve = 0.59; 95% confidence interval 0.55-0.63; P = 9·10−7). Furthermore, MDR identified a three-SNP model of COL5A1 rs12722, COL5A1 rs3196378 and MIR608 rs4919510 that was best able to predict elite athlete status, with a greater frequency of the CC-CC-CC genotype combination in elite rugby athletes (9.8%) than non-athletes (5.3%). We propose that elite rugby athletes possess “preferable” musculoskeletal soft-tissue injury-associated polygenic profiles that have helped them achieve success in the high injury risk environment of rugby. These data may, in future, have implications for the individual management of musculoskeletal soft-tissue injury. Highlights Elite rugby athletes have preferable polygenic profiles to non-athletes in terms of genetic variants previously associated with musculoskeletal soft-tissue injury. The total genotype score was able to distinguish between elite rugby athletes and non-athletes. COL5A1 rs12722, COL5A1 rs3196378 and MIR608 rs4919510 produced the best model for predicting elite athlete status. We propose that elite rugby athletes may have an inherited advantage to achieving elite status due to an increased resistance to soft-tissue injury.

Association of COL12A1 rs970547 Polymorphism with Elite Athlete Status.

The role of genetics, as an intrinsic factor, in research of sports performance increases with every passing year. The polymorphism rs970547 of the COL12A1 gene is one of the most promising genetic markers linked to soft-tissue injuries. This study aimed to investigate whether COL12A1 rs970547 genotypes are associated with elite Lithuanian athletes from high-risk various sports, such as running, throwing, jumping, and football. The study involved 293 Lithuanian elite athletes and 287 healthy untrained individuals from the Lithuanian population. The results of this study suggest that the rs970547 T allele and TT genotype were significantly over-represented in the total athlete group compared to controls (p < 0.05). There was a significantly lower C allele frequency in the sprint/power group (16.9%) as well as in footballers (19.4%) compared to controls (33.3%, p < 0.05). Positive selection analysis results showed that the derived allele experiences selection pressure within the general population of Lithuanians. Taken together, the findings of this study suggested that COL12A1 rs970547 (T allele and TT genotype) is associated with elite athlete status, especially with sprint/power athlete and footballer`s performance. However, larger-scale studies within different ethnic backgrounds are still warranted to confirm the findings of our study.

The role of PPARGC1A and the RS8192678 polymorphism in determining the performance of athletes

Annotation. The impact of genetics on physiology and sports performance is one of the most controversial areas of sports medicine. Studies have shown that in addition to wild-type genes, almost 200 gene polymorphisms affect athletic performance, and more than 20 polymorphisms can determine the status of elite athletes. Sports results are manifested to a greater extent not only due to environmental factors, but also due to the athlete's own genotype, so the purpose of our review article is to study the effects of the PPARGC1A gene and its rs8192678 polymorphism on sports characteristics. For this purpose, we analyzed and processed the information known to date about a specific gene and the effects of its polymorphism, using the main databases. The PPARGC1A gene plays an important role in a number of physiological processes and is responsible for the metabolism of glucose and ATP, to a greater extent in muscle tissue; for oxidative processes in organs; and for switching one or another type of muscle fibers depending on the force load. It was proved that the expression of this gene can be induced under the influence of low temperatures. The PPARGC1A polymorphism has different effects on athletic performance, depending on its alleles. For example, the Gly allele, associated with muscle strength and endurance, favors athletic performance, while the Ser allele and the Ser-Gly genotype show no significant evidence. The results of our review are intended to help select a training strategy for each athlete in order to understand the role of environment and genotype in achieving athletic success.

Media and Women Elite Athletes in the Arab World: Current Status and Perspectives for Developments

Media coverage of elite sport dates back to the 1960s, and ever since, media coverage of sport has been highly prevalent. This significant relationship has an impact on many factors including the social status of elite athletes. Thus, this paper first highlights the growth of media popularity in elite sport, and then proposes a new method of measurement of the media popularity of recognized sports, based on the methodology of the World Ranking of Countries in Elite Sport. This innovative index will allow the identification of the most popular sports around the world within the Arab context. After providing this data, this paper seeks to evaluate whether the popular sports indeed provide social advantages to the elite athletes who practice them, and to estimate accurately the impact that media have on the development of elite sport. These concepts extend to show the disparities between media coverage of male and female athletes and its wider impact on the athlete, sport, and/or culture. Recommendations for development of media practices are noted, including the proposition to refer in media contexts to sportspersons as athletes, as opposed to the use of terms which reinforce stereotypical divisions (male vs. female) thus challenging the reinforcing of gender stereotypes within the media.

FAAH rs324420 Polymorphism Is Associated with Performance in Elite Rink-Hockey Players.

Simple SummaryGenetic factors play a key role in athletes’ success; therefore, the interest for the study of the genetic profile contributing the most to extraordinary results in sport has been increasing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of genetic determinants in the athletic performance of the world’s top best rink-hockey players. According to our results, elite rink-hockey players carrying the Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) rs324420 A allele (AA or AC genotype) are three times more likely to be super athletes, which could be attributed to a higher pain tolerance and better stress coping, which may be useful for training and competition strategies. Despite the promising results, as this is a pioneer study, additional studies are needed for further validation of our results in rink-hockey and other sport modalities.Genetic factors are among the major contributors to athletic performance. Although more than 150 genetic variants have been correlated with elite athlete status, genetic foundations of competition-facilitating behavior influencing elite performances are still scarce. This is the first study designed to examine the distribution of genetic determinants in the athletic performance of elite rink-hockey players. A total of 116 of the world’s top best rink-hockey players (28.2 ± 8.7 years old; more than 50% are cumulatively from the best four world teams and the best five Portuguese teams), who participated at the elite level in the National Rink-Hockey Championship in Portugal, were evaluated in anthropometric indicators/measurements, training conditions, sport experience and sport injuries history. Seven genetic polymorphisms were analyzed. Polymorphism genotyping was performed using the TaqMan® Allelic Discrimination Methodology. Rink-hockey players demonstrated significantly different characteristics according to sex, namely anthropometrics, training habits, sports injuries and genetic variants, such as Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) rs731236 (p < 0.05). The Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) rs324420 A allele was significantly associated with improved athletic performance (AA/AC vs. CC, OR = 2.80; 95% Cl, 1.23–6.35; p = 0.014; p = 0.008 after Bootstrap) and confirmed as an independent predictor among elite rink-hockey players (adjusted OR = 2.88; 95% Cl, 1.06–7.80; p = 0.038). Our results open an interesting link from FAAH-related biology to athletic performance.

Effects of the COVID -19 Pandemic on Physical Activity, Mood Status, and Eating Patterns of Iranian Elite Athletes and Non-Athletes

Background: Suspension of sports activities during the covid-19 pandemic led to unhealthy lifestyles such as harmful eating habits, low physical activity levels, and mood changes. Objectives: We examined the effects of the covid-19 pandemic on the mood states, physical activity levels, and eating habits of athletes and non-athletes during the pandemic in Iran. Methods: A total of 257 elite athletes (n = 82) and non-athletes (n = 175) (29.95 ± 9.1 years) voluntarily participated in a web-based survey. Eating disorder symptoms and physical activity levels were evaluated using the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) was used to evaluate the mood status of the participants. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare differences between groups. The significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: It was demonstrated that the physical activity levels of athletes were superior to that of the non-athlete controls (P = 0.001), but non-athletes revealed healthier dietary habits than elite athletes (P = 0.049). It was also observed that the mood status of elite athletes was not significantly different from non-athletes (P = 0.71). Conclusions: As shown in the results section, athletes had more favorable levels of physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic than their fellow non-athletes, but this superiority had no positive effect on their moods. Moreover, non-athletes had healthier dietary habits than non-athletes.

Impact of COVID Lockdown on Mental Health of Elite Athletes – A Status Study

Covid lockdown upset the whole globe to a stunning shock. Never in life we had ever faced such a crisis, complete lockdown, which all lead up in lonely untouchable deaths, sickness, isolation, quarantine finally ended up in disordered mental health. Though there is an increased awareness on health and using need for staying fit, the lockdown restrictions doesn’t pay space for it. If this is the case for the normal, athletes who dedicate their entire life, investing, time, body, mind and soul all into athletic performance have completely dislodged routines. A layman’s eyes may find life of a sports man a fun filled, excited, easy go. But it’s not the true colour. Ambitious, ameturistic life into training has changed to cloudy future feared min set. The purpose of this study was to find out the mental health status of elite athletes during covid lockdown. To conduct the study, data was collected through google form using Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10). Out of the 374 athletes who responded, 218 athletes (58.29%) where in extreme stress almost all the time during covid lockdown. Thus it is concluded that, in this situation coach and sports psychologists have to create awareness about the lockdown, contact athletes and council them. Athletes are the pride of every nation, they need to recover from psychological setbacks. So, it is. The need of the hour to design a best training programme suitable and possible during lockdown to protect their skills and abilities. Even from these minds, our national athletes need to recover from psychological setbacks. So, we need to find the best training method for them and protect their skills.

Factors affecting the shoulder functional profile in elite judo athletes

ABSTRACT The aim was to investigate the effects of sex, age, preferred judo technique, dominance, and injury history on the shoulder functional status of elite judo athletes. Sixty-one elite judo athletes (38 males, age: 18.1 ± 1.2 years, body mass: 69.3 ± 13.3 kg, body height: 172.2 ± 9.8 cm, brown belt to second-degree black belt) completed three questionnaires: Western Ontario Shoulder Instability, Western Ontario Rotator Cuff, and Shoulder Instability-Return to Sport after Injury. They performed four physical tests: the glenohumeral rotator isometric strength test, upper quarter Y-balance test, unilateral seated shot put test, and modified Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test. The results showed that the female athletes had less shoulder functional abilities than the male athletes (p < 0.001 to p = 0.02). The younger athletes had poorer shoulder stability and upper extremity power than the older athletes (p < 0.001 to p = 0.02), but their glenohumeral muscles were stronger in both internal (p = 0.03) and external (p = 0.005) rotations. All the judo athletes had similar bilateral differences in shoulder functional status, except for judokas who preferred throwing techniques (p = 0.01). Injury history affected self-perceived functional status (p < 0.001), as well as upper extremity muscle capacity and neuromuscular control (p = 0.01 to p = 0.05). This study provides new insight into the shoulder functional status of elite judo athletes, which may aid in the development of sports-specific injury prevention and return-to-sport programmes to reduce the risk of shoulder injury occurrence and recurrence. Highlights Normalized levels of upper extremity abilities must be sex- and age-specific in prevention programmes. Prevention programmes may focus on muscle bilateral and anteroposterior symmetry. Prevention programmes may include psychological training tailored to the sex of judo athletes.

Concussion-Associated Gene Variant COMT rs4680 Is Associated With Elite Rugby Athlete Status.

Concussions are common match injuries in elite rugby, and reports exist of reduced cognitive function and long-term health consequences that can interrupt or end a playing career and produce continued ill health. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between elite rugby status and 8 concussion-associated risk polymorphisms. We hypothesized that concussion-associated risk genotypes and alleles would be underrepresented in elite rugby athletes compared with nonathletes. A case-control genetic association study. Institutional (university). Elite White male rugby athletes [n = 668, mean (SD) height 1.85 (0.07) m, mass 102 (12) kg, and age 29 (7) years] and 1015 nonathlete White men and women (48% men). Genotype was the independent variable, obtained by PCR of genomic DNA using TaqMan probes. Elite athlete status with groups compared using χ 2 and odds ratio (OR). The COMT rs4680 Met/Met (AA) genotype, Met allele possession, and Met allele frequency were lower in rugby athletes (24.8%, 74.6%, and 49.7%, respectively) than nonathletes (30.2%, 77.6%, and 54.0%; P < 0.05). The Val/Val (GG) genotype was more common in elite rugby athletes than nonathletes (OR 1.39, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.86). No other polymorphism was associated with elite athlete status. Elite rugby athlete status is associated with COMT rs4680 genotype that, acting pleiotropically, could affect stress resilience and behavioral traits during competition, concussion risk, and/or recovery from concussion. Consequently, assessing COMT rs4680 genotype might aid future individualized management of concussion risk among athletes.

Gene variants previously associated with reduced soft tissue injury risk: Part 1 – independent associations with elite status in rugby

ABSTRACT There is growing evidence of genetic contributions to tendon and ligament pathologies. Given the high incidence and severity of tendon and ligament injuries in elite rugby, we studied whether 13 gene polymorphisms previously associated with tendon/ligament injury were associated with elite athlete status. Participants from the RugbyGene project were 663 elite Caucasian male rugby athletes (RA) (mean (standard deviation) height 1.85 (0.07) m, mass 101 (12) kg, age 29 (7) yr), including 558 rugby union athletes (RU) and 105 rugby league athletes. Non-athletes (NA) were 909 Caucasian men and women (56% female; height 1.70 (0.10) m, mass 72 (13) kg, age 41 (23) yr). Genotypes were determined using TaqMan probes and groups compared using Χ2 and odds ratio (OR). COLGALT1 rs8090 AA genotype was more frequent in RA (27%) than NA (23%; P = 0.006). COL3A1 rs1800255 A allele was more frequent in RA (26%) than NA (23%) due to a greater frequency of GA genotype (39% vs 33%). For MIR608 rs4919510, RA had 1.7 times the odds of carrying the CC genotype compared to NA. MMP3 rs591058 TT genotype was less common in RA (25.1%) than NA (31.2%; P < 0.04). For NID1 rs4660148, RA had 1.6 times the odds of carrying the TT genotype compared to NA. It appears that elite rugby athletes have an inherited advantage that contributes to their elite status, possibly via resistance to soft tissue injury. These data may, in future, assist personalised management of injury risk amongst athletes. Highlights The elite rugby athletes we studied had differing genetic characteristics to non-athletes regarding genetic variants previously associated with soft-tissue injury risk. COLGALT1 rs8090, COL3A1 rs1800255, MIR608 rs4919510, MMP3 rs591058 and NID1 rs4660148 were all associated with elite status in rugby. We propose that elite rugby athletes might possess an inherited resistance to soft tissue injury, which has enabled them to achieve elite status despite exposure to the high-risk environment of elite rugby.

Changes in body mass and hydration status in judo athletes before and after a top-level competition: a descriptive case study

ABSTRACT Objectives The International Judo Federation (IJF) implemented new regulations in an attempt to regulate rapid weight loss in 2013. The body weight of the athletes cannot be more than 5% higher than the upper limits of their weight categories at the weight check for randomly selected athletes from each weight category before the competition. However, therea lack of studies demonstrating rapid weight loss and hydration status of elite judo athletes in a real match atmosphere under the current refereeing rules. Thus, this study aimed to examine the body mass and hydration changes of elite judo athletes a week before the competition, official weigh-in, and 24 hours after competition. Methods Eight high-level male judo athletes voluntarily participated in this study. Body mass and urinary measures of hydration status were collected a week before, at the official weigh-in and 24-hour post-weigh-in. Results The one-way repeated-measures ANOVA showed a significant main effect of time on body mass (p < 0.001). Body mass decreased by 5.4 ± 0.7 kg or 6.8% from a week before the competition to official weigh-in (p < 0.001) and increased by 3.0 ± 1.1 kg or 4.2% from official weigh-in to 24-h post-competition (p < 0.001). A significant effect of time was also found in both urine-specific gravity (USG) (p < 0.001) and urine color (UC) among the measurements (p = 0.001). Athletes’ USG values were at the highest level (USG = 1.030 ± 0.001) at the official weigh-in, while they decreased significantly at 24-hour post-competition (USG = 1.017 ± 0.007). Conclusion The results showed that elite judo athletes resort to rapid weight loss and present dehydration despite established regulations by the IJF.

Dual Career Development Perspective: Factors Affecting Quality of Post-sport Career Transition of Employed Olympic Athletes.

Although Olympic athletes are celebrated for their sports achievements, they often face serious difficulties in their post-sport career employment. Factors of development that are affecting the quality of post-sport career transition of Olympic athletes are important to acknowledge in the dual career (DC) development perspective. Due to the side lining of academic activities, athletes are often not well prepared for the labor market. If they do not gain sufficient financial background in their careers, it can lead to a lack of proper economic inclusion of athletes in their post-sport career employment and further impact their lives. Career transitions of athletes have been the subject of research in different aspects of DC support (e.g., athletic, psychological, psychosocial, academic/vocational, financial), but most research is linked to the student-athlete DC perspective. Therefore, the aim of our research was to examine the impact of factors directly contributing to the quality of the post-sport career transition in Slovenian elite and Olympic athletes and the social class position and employment of these athletes after the termination of their sports career. From DC support practice, we learned that although athletes often have a proper level of education, their post-sport career transitions were not successful. To fill this gap, 168 elite athletes (Mage = 33.34, SD = 13.1) from Slovenia were asked to complete online questionnaires. The results showed a significant contribution of education and DC support-related finances (e.g., employment of athletes in public administration) to the quality of post-sport career transition. Regarding developing a national DC model and based on empirical research, this study identifies the social class position and employment status of former elite athletes from Slovenia. It also identifies opportunities for further research on the quality of the post-sport career transitions and perspectives on DC support. Understanding how different factors contribute to the integrated development of individual athletes to reach their potential in sports, education, and their post-sport career employment is important for theorists, DC practitioners, and stakeholders working with DC athletes. To develop a sufficient mechanism, DC support providers should consider supporting education along with the financial support of athletes during their sports careers and recognizing study-training ecosystems, based on good practices to successfully transition to their post-sport careers. These findings can also be useful for athletes and their athletic triangle support network (e.g., coaches and parents) as a support in the decision-making.