Olympic Winter Sports Research Articles

SALT LAKE CITY 2002

The purpose of this special event is to provide an update on the status of several areas of sport science and technology related to Olympic winter sport. Dr. Kenneth Rundell will provide an introduction and overview of the session. Drs. Gerry Smith and Jos de Koning will present data on the most recent advancements in ski and speedskate technology, respectively, and will discuss the potential impact of these technological developments on performance in Salt Lake City 2002. Dr. Heikki Rusko will discuss his most current research on the nitrogen dilution method (“nitrogen apartment”), used in conjunction with the “live high-train low” strategy of altitude training. Dr. Randall Wilber will provide an update on current techniques being used to detect the illicit use of rhEPO by Olympic athletes. Ms. Andrea Nahrgang, a member of the U.S. Biathlon team, will describe the importance of sport science and technology in her preparation for the Salt Lake City Olympics. Collectively, the data presented in this current issue will provide attendees with information on the latest developments in sport science and technology for winter sport that have occurred since the Nagano Olympiad.

Incidence of exercise-induced bronchospasm in Olympic winter sport athletes.

The purpose of this project was to determine the incidence of exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) among U.S. Olympic winter sport athletes. Subjects included female and male members of the 1998 U.S. Winter Olympic Team from the following sports: biathlon, cross-country ski, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, long-track speedskating, and short-track speedskating. Assessment of EIB was conducted in conjunction with an "actual competition" (Olympic Trials, World Team Trials, World Cup Event, U.S. National Championships) or a "simulated competition" (time trial, game), which served as the exercise challenge. Standard spirometry tests were performed preexercise and at 5, 10, and 15 min postexercise. An athlete was considered EIB-positive based on a postexercise decrement in FEV1 > or = 10%. For the seven sports evaluated on the 1998 U.S. Winter Olympic Team, the overall incidence of EIB across all sports and genders was 23%. The highest incidence of EIB was found in cross-country skiers, where 50% of the athletes (female = 57%; male = 43%) were diagnosed with EIB. Across the seven sports evaluated, the prevalence of EIB among the female and male athletes was 26% and 18%, respectively. Among those individuals found to be EIB-positive were athletes who won a team gold medal, one individual silver medal, and one individual bronze medal at the Nagano Winter Olympics. These data suggest that: 1) EIB is prevalent in several Olympic winter sports and affects nearly one of every four elite winter sport athletes; 2) the winter sport with the highest incidence of EIB is cross-country skiing; 3) in general, EIB is more prevalent in female versus male elite winter sport athletes; and 4) athletes may compete successfully at the international level despite having EIB.

Motivational Factors and Coping Strategies of Norwegian Paralympic and Olympic Winter Sport Athletes

This study aimed to compare individual and situational motivational factors and the use of coping strategies among elite athletes with and without physical disabilities. Participants were Norwegian athletes from the 1994 Winter Olympics (n = 69) and Paralympics (n = 30) at Lillehammer. Quantitative data came from questions concerning expectations and satisfactions, and three instruments (Perception of Success Questionnaire, Perceived Motivational Climate Questionnaire, and the COPE Inventory). Qualitative data came from interviews. MANOVA analyses revealed that Paralympic and Olympic athletes had similar motivational profiles, but the Paralympic athletes perceived a more mastery-oriented climate, F(1, 98) = 12.6, p < .001. Both groups used similar types of coping strategies, except that Olympic athletes employed more redefinition and growth strategies, F(1, 97) = 6.72, p < .01. Paralympic athletes were also significantly more satisfied with effort and results. Paralympic and Olympic athletes were significantly different on only 4 of 11 variables.