Sports Research Articles

Profiles of Primary School Children’s Sports Participation and Their Motor Competencies

Background/Objectives: Children participate in various organized and informal physical activities (PAs) in their leisure time, presenting diverse objectives and environments for motor and social development. However, current research often focuses on specific, mostly organized activities, overlooking the complexity of participation across different settings. This study aimed to (1) identify groups of children with similar characteristics based on their participation in five organized and informal sports activities and (2) examine how the groups differ regarding gender, age, BMI, motor competencies (MCs), and attendance in institutionalized care at school. Methods: The study included n = 1717 1st and 2nd graders (M = 7.60 years, SD = 0.59, 50.7% girls) and n = 1319 3rd and 4th graders (M = 9.46 years, SD = 0.57, 49.4% girls) from the “EMOKK” study, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. Data were collected via parent questionnaires on leisure sports participation, and MCs were assessed using MOBAK-1-2 and 3-4 tests. Latent profile analyses (LPAs) and univariate ANOVAs were used to identify group differences. Results: A three-profile LPA model best fits the data, revealing differences in participation across individual and team sports, optional school sports, free play on the school playground, and informal activities during leisure time. Children involved more in team sports (profiles: allrounder and very active sportsperson) participate more in informal play and present better MCs than children participating mainly in individual sports (profile: individual sportsperson). Girls were predominantly in the individual sports profile, while boys were more evenly spread across all groups. These findings highlight the importance of designing targeted interventions that promote participation in both organized and informal sports, particularly for children with lower levels of PA. Conclusions: Children show different patterns of engagement in different interrelated organized and informal leisure PA contexts. These specific patterns and the children’s MCs should be taken into account for the targeted promotion of PAs during leisure time.

Development of the Recreational Sports Programme to Enhance the Emotional Intelligence of Students at Fuzhou Institute of Technology

Background and Aim: Under the influence of the novel coronavirus epidemic, has brought a serious negative impact on the emotional intelligence of college students. To improve the emotional intelligence of college students, a leisure sports program was developed and designed. The objectives of this study are:1) To understand the current situation of college students participating in recreational sports in Fuzhou University of Technology; 2) Develop recreational sports programs to improve the emotional intelligence of Fuzhou University of Technology students; 3) Evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 730 college students of Fuzhou Institute of Technology; interviews were conducted with 20 freshmen, 5 sports experts, 5 school physical education teachers, and 5 school leaders; 15 freshmen males, and 15 freshmen females were subjected to an 8-week experiment; the data obtained from the questionnaires and interviews were analyzed using descriptive statistics by using the SPSS software and a sample t-test was conducted on the data from the experiment. Results: 1) Students of Fuzhou Institute of Technology tended to exercise twice a week; The strength tends to be low strength and medium and low strength. Each time is less than 1 hour; The types are yoga, basketball, jogging, and Taichi Chuan. 2) The FITT-SFD recreational sports program was developed. 3) T-tests before and after the experiment showed that the average values of emotional intelligence before and after the experiment were 110.2 and 137.8, and EI was significantly improved. Conclusion: The experimental results show that this program has significant improvement in the dimensions of improving emotional perception, self-emotional management, others' emotional management, and emotional application. The experimental data verify the effectiveness of the research and development of recreational sports programs in improving students' emotional intelligence and provide empirical support for the promotion of research in related fields of emotional intelligence.

Lipid Accumulation Product and Cardiometabolic Index as Effective Tools for the Identification of Athletes at Risk for Metabolic Syndrome

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a growing global public health concern that is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular events, even in athletes. The lipid accumulation product (LAP) index and cardiometabolic index (CMI) have been shown to be efficient markers of MS in the general population; its applicability in athletes has not been discussed yet. We aimed to assess the role of LAP and CMI in predicting MS in athletes. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 793 Olympic athletes practicing different sporting disciplines (power, skill, endurance, and mixed), classified arbitrarily into no risk (NR), low risk (LR), high risk (HR), or MS if they had 0, 1, 2, or 3 criteria for MS, respectively. Evaluations included a calculation of the LAP index, CMI, anthropometric measurements, and clinical and laboratorial variables. Results: Among our population, only 0.8% reached the criteria for MS, 9.1% were at HR for MS, 37.8% were defined as LR, and 52.3% had NR. Significant differences in anthropometric parameters and the principal components of MS criteria (blood pressure, lipidic profile, glycemia) were reported predominantly in HR athletes and those with MS (p < 0.0001). LAP and CMI presented linearly increasing values from individuals with NR to those with MS (p < 0.0001). In addition, HR and MS athletes were classified as “likely MS” (9.8%) and LR and NR athletes as “unlikely MS” (90.2%). After adjusting for potential confounders, LAP ≥ 34.66 and CMI ≥ 0.776 emerged as independent predictors for MS in the overall cohort (Hazar Ratio (HR) 7.22 [3.75–13.89], p < 0.0001, and HR 5.37 [2.96–9.73], p < 0.0001, respectively). The ROC curve revealed that these cut-offs in the general population predict MS with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.80 and 0.79, respectively, for LAP and CMI. However, gender-related cut-offs seem to be more precise in predicting MS (LAP ≥ 38.79 for male, LAP ≥ 14.16 for female, and CMI ≥ 0.881 for male and ≥0.965 for female). Conclusion: The ROC curve analyses of LAP and CMI showed good diagnostic accuracy in predicting MS among athletes, despite the low prevalence of MS in our sample. Thus, these indexes may be used to promote screening for primary prevention and early detection of athletes at risk for MS to establish an early prevention strategy. Larger prospective studies are necessary to validate their benefit in the general population.

The role of external partners in shaping the organizational capacity of collegiate sport clubs: a Delphi study

ABSTRACT Research question Collegiate sport clubs (CSCs) are prominent sport outlets for college students yet struggle to achieve their goals due to unique challenges in the collegiate context (e.g. membership restrictions, university regulation). Little is known about how the university, recreational sport department and sport governing bodies (SGBs) impact CSC capacity. This study examines how the university (i.e. external partner) influences the management of CSCs and how external partners (e.g. university, SGB) support and/or constrain clubs’ organizational capacity. Research methods A 3-iteration Delphi study was conducted with 17 expert panelists in CSC management across the USA. Results and findings The panel disagreed on the organizational practices influencing clubs’ capacity at the departmental level, yet agreed at the university level, emphasizing mitigating university liability. The panel lacked consensus on the constraints limiting clubs’ capacity, suggesting these were institution specific. When describing ideal organizational management practices that support club capacity, panelists agreed staffing, communication and collaboration across external partners are critical. Implications Theoretical implications address the influence of the external environment on organizational capacity in the context of CSCs. Recommendations for practice include reciprocal representation across external partners, collaborative decision-making, and negotiation of constraining regulative policies to promote club autonomy and support.

Recovery practices of slovenian sport climbers

Post-exercise recovery interventions enable athletes to overcome greater training loads and thereby enhancing their performance. Post-exercise recovery strategies serve to optimize recovery, help lower performance decline and prevent overtraining. The purpose of this study was to examine the current practices and attitudes towards post-exercise recovery among Slovenian sport climbers. 339 sports climbers from Slovenia (186 males, 153 females), consisting of 330 recreational sport climbers and 9 competitive sport climbers completed an online survey which was active from February to May 2022. The most common recovery strategies among sport climbers are sleep/rest (84%) and stretching (77%). A significant proportion of sport climbers (87%) reported sleeping duration below the recommended amount of sleep. Personal opinions notably influence the choice of recovery strategies (6 out of 9 competitive sport climbers and 71% of recreational sport climbers). Our findings reveal discrepancies between individual beliefs regarding the effectiveness of specific strategies and their practical implementation. Competitive sport climbers have more individualized recovery strategies (p = 0.012) and use a greater number of recovery strategies (p = 0. 005). Even though that such recovery practices of sport climbers are often in conflict with the literature, we can conclude that sport climbers recover solidly. This data may suggest that recovery does not play a major role in sport climbing performance.

Research on the Development Motivation of Marathon Race Blowout in China

As a national fitness sports event, city marathon is more and more sought after by people. Marathon is not only a competition for professional athletes, but also enters the life of ordinary people and becomes one of the first choices for national fitness. At the same time, the economic and cultural added value brought by the holding of the city marathon is favored by city managers. So far, the city marathon has shown a rapid blowout development trend, which plays an important role in promoting the strategic layout of Chinese healthy development.

The role of general motor skills in talent identification: A systematic review

Successful talent identification increases the chances of sporting and financial success since it provides talented children and adolescents with the most optimal learning environment to realize their potential. Hence, coaches and clubs of many sport disciplines are eager to identify talented athletes. General motor skills are often incorporated in talented identification research, as it is considered fundamental to learning sport-specific motor skills. This systematic review aimed to examine to what extent general motor skills can contribute to the identification of talented athletes aged six to eighteen. Five electronic databases were searched, which resulted in 22 eligible studies (13 cross-sectional and 9 longitudinal studies). Quality assessment was done using the Quality Assessment with Diverse Studies tool. The vast majority of both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies found either differences in general motor skills in favour of the talented athletes (59% of the studies) or no differences between talented athletes and their peers (36% of the studies). These results show that assessing general motor skills could contribute to talent identification programs, but caution should be paid prior to the implementation of these general motor skill test batteries due to the inconclusive nature of the findings. Hence, there is a need for future high-quality longitudinal studies which are recommended to conduct sex- and age-specific analyses, address the existing gap in the literature by including athletes from diverse sports beyond football, and investigate whether assessing manipulative skills and capturing movement quality could be a valuable addition to assessing locomotor skills for identifying athletic talent.

Quantitative Analysis of TPU Microstructure and Performance Optimization across Various Processing Conditions.

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is essential in resource exploration, healthcare, automotive, and high-end recreational sports. Despite extensive research on TPU's microstructures and their macroscopic properties, the impact of processing conditions like compression and injection molding remains underexplored. This study investigates the influence of processing conditions on TPU by preparing samples with varying hard segment contents using compression molding at 205 °C and injection molding at melt temperatures of 205, 210, 215, and 220 °C, followed by heat treatment at 120 °C for 12 h. Results indicate that injection-molded TPU at 205 °C exhibits lower hydrogen bonding, crystallinity, long period, interfacial thickness, and lamella thickness than compression-molded TPU, leading to higher Young's modulus but lower elongation at break. As melt temperatures increase, these microstructural parameters decrease, reducing Young's modulus and increasing elongation at break. Post heat treatment, microstructural parameters increase, aligning Young's modulus with that of compression-molded samples, while elongation at break surpasses them. This suggests that heat treatment enhances microphase separation by rearranging hard and soft segments. our research reveals a consistent pattern across TPUs with varying hard segment contents, indicating that adjusting processing parameters can effectively regulate microstructure and performance, offering valuable insights for developing high-performance polyurethanes.

Comprehensive Prevention of Exercise-related Sudden Cardiac Arrest or Death.

Exercise-related sudden cardiac arrest or death (SCA/D) is defined as SCA/D during sports or exercise, or within 1 hour of exercise cessation (1). When exercise-related SCA/D occurs during competitive sport in a young athlete, it often attracts significant media attention and concern. However, most exercise-related SCA/D occurs in middle-aged recreational sports participants (2). The effectiveness and appropriateness of widespread cardiovascular screening to prevent exercise-related SCA/D is uncertain. Appropriate resuscitation measures, facilitated by emergency action planning (EAP) and timely access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs), remains the mainstay of sudden cardiac death (SCD) prevention (1).

Impact of sports sponsorship on early career athlete performance: Czech case study

The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation between sponsorship and the performance and development of early career athletes transitioning from junior level to professional sports, because this issue has not been fully explored in the Czech Republic. The reason is the almost absolute absence of financial or material support for such early-career athletes, when their transition from junior categories and the entire junior category is almost always exclusively financed and supported by their parents and families. We also emphasise the absolute absence of legislative provisions that would give supporters of such athletes at least a tax or other advantage. The research is based on research of Cardenas (2023), Hong and Fraser (2023) and Moolman and Shuttleworth (2023) and aims to assess how financial and material support provided by sponsors can enhance an athlete’s performance and long-term career trajectory. A mixed method approach was adopted, combining quantitative analysis through surveys and performance data with qualitative interviews. Data from 173 early career athletes from various disciplines were analysed using t-tests and ANOVA statistical methods to assess financial stability, access to better training, and community participation. Results indicate that sponsorship significantly contributes to better performance metrics, with sponsored athletes showing a 20% improvement in competition results compared to nonsponsored athletes. Furthermore, sponsorship financial support improved training opportunities and access to elite facilities, which was shown to increase athletes’ performance by 15%. However, some challenges related to sponsorship obligations, such as marketing commitments, were highlighted by athletes, underscoring the pressures that sponsorship can introduce. The implications of this study suggest that effective sponsorship strategies can play a vital role in an athlete’s career development, offering not only financial stability but also opportunities for personal branding and increased community engagement. Another implication is a possible consideration for legislators in the context of preparing a legislative framework enabling tax or other benefits for companies and organisations sponsoring or supporting these young athletes. More research is recommended to explore the long-term impact of sponsorship on athlete mental health and career sustainability, as well as the differences in sponsorship effects across various sports disciplines.

Influence of Badminton Coaches on the Athletes’ Self-Efficacy

This study employed a correlational research method to examine the relationship between coaches’ self-efficacy – specifically in terms of emotion, optimism, work satisfaction and self-confidence -and athletes’ self-efficacy, which includes personality self- efficacy, sports discipline, psychological self-efficacy and professional thought efficacy. A purposive sampling technique was used to specifically select 10 badminton coaches. Meanwhile, stratified sampling was employed to proportionately distribute the 300 athletes from five universities, ensuring representation from different subgroups. This study found no significant correlation between coaches’ self-efficacy and athletes’ self-efficacy as indicated by the p values greatre than the .05 level of significance set in the study. Despite the Spearman rho coefficients ranging from moderate to high, these results were not statistically significant, these findings suggest that while there may be observable trends the relationship between coaches and athletes’ self-efficacy is not conclusively supported by the data.

Influence of genetic polymorphism on sports talent performance versus non-athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundTalented athletes exhibit remarkable skills and performance in their respective sports, setting them apart from their peers. It has been observed that genetic polymorphisms can influence variations in sports performance, leading to numerous studies aimed at validating genetic markers for identifying sports talents. This study aims to evaluate the potential contribution of genetic factors associated with athletic performance predisposition in identifying sports talents.MethodsA systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA framework, utilizing the PICO methodology to develop the research question. The search was limited to case-control studies published between 2003 and June 2024, and databases such as Medline, LILACS, WPRIM, IBECS, CUMED, VETINDEX, Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus and Scielo were utilized. The STREGA tool was employed to assess the quality of the selected studies.ResultsA total of 1,132 articles were initially identified, of which 119 studies were included in the review. Within these studies, 50 genes and 94 polymorphisms were identified, showing associations with sports talent characteristics such as endurance, strength, power, and speed. The most frequently mentioned genes were ACTN3 (27.0%) and ACE (11.3%).ConclusionThe ACE I/D and ACTN3 R577X polymorphisms are frequently discussed in the literature. Although athletic performance may be influenced by different genetic polymorphisms, limitations exist in associating them with athletic performance across certain genotypes and phenotypes. Future research is suggested to investigate the influence of polymorphisms in elite athletes from diverse backgrounds and sports disciplines.

Characteristics of Children with an Undesirable Motor Competence Development During the Transition from Early to Middle Childhood: Results of a 2-Year Longitudinal Study

Objective: Motor competence development from early to middle childhood is accompanied by great variance. This course can be influenced by many factors in the ecosystem. The objective of this study was to examine which individual characteristics are associated with an undesirable motor competence development during the transition from early to middle childhood. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted between February 2020 and May 2022. Actual and perceived motor competence and the potential determinants physical activity enjoyment, weight status, and organized sports participation of children (49% boys) aged 4–6 years old at T0 (N = 721) were measured at two points in time, separated by a two-year interval. Associations between potential determinants and AMC, including interactions with time, were analyzed using linear mixed-effect regression models with continuous motor quotient scores as outcome variables. Results: Overweight, obesity, and lack of organized sports participation were associated with lower motor quotient scores over time. Multivariate analyses showed that associations of weight status (overweight and obesity) and sports participation with motor quotient scores remained significant after adjustment for variations in perceived motor competence and physical activity enjoyment. Conclusions: Excessive body weight and lack of sports participation from early childhood are associated with an increased risk of an undesirable motor competence development over time.

THE STUDY OF THE SPATIO-TEMPORAL ORIENTATION ABILITY OF STUDENTS PRACTICING SPORTS DANCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BUCHAREST

Background. Sports dance is characterized by a complex coordination, its most important components being, in our opinion: the segmental, general and multisegmental coordination; the capacity of kinesthetic differentiation; the static and dynamic coordination, the ability of spatio-temporal orientation; the ability to perceive and reproduce musical rhythm and tempo. Sports dance lessons are held in the University of Bucharest with students who opt for this discipline without having a prior selection. In sports dance, all the motor capacities are involved in different weights, but we proposed for this study to analyze from the perspective of the coordinative capacities, the spatio-temporal orientation. Objectives. The subjects in this study are students in the 1st and 2nd years, belonging to different faculties of the university and they were divided into the control and the experimental groups. Both groups worked to test a salsa choreography during the lessons. In the experimental group, the choreography was practiced facing points 1,3,5,7, and in the control group, the choreography was practiced facing point 1. The test was realized with reference to point 5. Methods. The working methods used are observation, testing method, statistical-mathematical and graphical interpretation method. Results. The results were significantly better in the experimental group compared to the control group. The subjects in the experimental group were able to orient themselves better in space and time in a percentage of 85% and in the control group the percentage was about 30% Conclusion. We believe that the orientation in space and time can be improved by simple means, prepared by the teacher in the sports discipline, the methodological work being implemented according to the groups.

SPORTS INJURIES IN YOUNG GYMNASTS FOLLOWING THE COVID-19 ONSET: PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS

COVID-19 lockdowns had a negative impact on training practices and other fitness- and coaching-related aspects across many sports disciplines. This study analyzed the relationship between different training routines and performance, as well as the prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries (MI) in young gymnasts following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample consisted of 67 artistic gymnasts (AG) from Campo Grande, MS, Brazil, aged 8 to 17 years. Participants were divided into two groups: G1, which included gymnasts in remote training, and G2, comprising gymnasts in face-to-face training. Subjects were assessed for anthropometric variables, flexibility, muscle power, and sensorimotor stability, and completed a questionnaire to record MI cases. A total of 34 MI cases were reported by 23 participants (34.3%), with the majority affecting the lower limbs. Eight individuals reported at least two retrospective MI cases. Additionally, G2 demonstrated higher muscle power, greater flexibility, and improved sensorimotor stability. Face-to-face training conditions were associated with at least a tenfold increase in the likelihood of MI. Weekly training time (exposure) was linked to a ~9% increase in lower limb MI, while factors such as age, dynamic balance, and training were directly associated with MI occurring during floor exercises.In conclusion, although regular face-to-face training was linked to enhanced motor performance, it was also associated with a higher prevalence of MI, particularly in the lower limbs. Floor exercises were the primary circumstances under which injuries occurred.

Olympism through the Eyes of Coaches: Metaphorical Texture and Colors of Sport

This study aims to explore coaches' metaphorical perceptions of the concept of “Olympism.” The research sample consists of 170 coaches (86 male, 84 female) from various sports disciplines, working in both public and private organizations in Turkey during the 2023-2024 academic year. Data were collected using a “metaphor form,” where participants were prompted to complete the sentence: “Olympism is like ...; because …”. Content analysis was employed to examine the responses, leading to the development of categories and themes. The metaphors were organized into five categories, each comprising eleven themes. The most prominent category was ‘values of sport,’ followed by ‘abstract concepts and spiritual development’ and ‘universal values.’. The most frequent metaphors included life, Olympiad, summit, success, harmony, spirit, and sport. These findings indicate that coaches view sport as both a physical and a spiritual journey, emphasizing that Olympism supports athletes' personal and professional development. In the category of “Sport and Ethical Competition,” coaches highlighted that Olympism encompasses ethical values and social contributions in addition to achieving success. In the “Abstract Concepts and Spiritual Development” category, coaches described Olympism as a spiritual journey and a philosophy of life. Meanwhile, in the “Universal Values” category, they conveyed that sport serves as a means of fostering global unity and understanding. Overall, the study highlights that metaphors are an effective means of expressing the complex and multifaceted nature of Olympism.

Strategies for promoting golf in countries with low popularity of this sport

The relevance of the topic is due to the need to expand the range of mass sports disciplines and integrate new sports into the culture of various regions. In countries where golf has not yet become widespread, it is often associated with elitism and high financial barriers. This limits the development of sports and distorts its perception in society. The study aims to analyze and evaluate strategies aimed at popularizing golf in such countries, to identify the most effective approaches to overcoming social, economic, and cultural barriers that hinder its development. Contradictions have been identified related to the availability of golf, high infrastructure costs, and limited support from the private sector in emerging economies. The conclusion is formulated that the successful promotion of golf requires a combination of educational programs, the use of modern technologies, partnerships with business structures, and the creation of accessible infrastructure. However, it is necessary to adapt strategies for each State, taking into account its specifics. That is why, within the framework of the article, special attention is paid to the systematization of their advantages and the most obvious limitations. The materials will be useful for sports managers, organizers of sports events, government agencies, as well as investors interested in the development of sports.

Unveiling a hide side of the athlete's heart: a CMR focus on the left atrium.

Abstract Background cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is the gold standard to evaluate cardiac chambers’ dimensions and function, but data on left atrium (LA) dimensions and function among elite athletes are lacking. Objective to describe LA size and function among a cohort of elite athletes and evaluate eventual differences based on sports discipline and gender. Methods We enrolled 120 Olympic athletes with un-remarkable cardiovascular pre-participation screening tests (mean age 25±5 years, 50% males, 25% skill, 25% power, 25% mixed, 25% endurance). All the athletes underwent CMR without contrast administration. LA dimensions, in terms of absolute and indexed area and volume, were computed using 4- and 2-chamber steady state precession cine-sequences. LA ejection fraction (LAEF) and LA coupling index (LACI index, as the ratio between LA and LV end-diastolic volumes) were calculated. Cine-images were also used to analyse atrial deformation with a dedicated offline software to measure LA global longitudinal strain. LA dimensions and function were compared between males and females and athletes of different sports categories based on European classification. Results Among the entire cohort, endurance athletes showed the greatest remodelling in terms of LA and LV dimensions (Table). There were no significant differences in LAEF and LV-EF between athletes of different sport categories (p=0.121 and p=0.679). A trend in increasing LA volumes and decreasing LA strain consistent with a growing cardiovascular demand was observed, but the only statistically significant difference was between skill athletes and all the other groups for LA volumes (p<0.001), while there were no significant differences in LA strain (p=0.170). LACI did not differ between athletes of different sports categories (p=0.170). Female athletes showed higher LAEF and LA strain than males (respectively 55±5 vs 52±6% p=0.012 and 35±7 vs 32±7%, p=0.009) while LACI did not differ based on gender (19±5% for both females and males, p=0.385). Conclusion Among our cohort of Olympics, LA remodelling was observed in all athletes, being less evident in skill group, as for the LV. Thus, the ratio between LA and LV did not differ between sport categories. LAEF and LA strain were not significantly different between athletes of different sports categories although LA strain was slightly lower in endurance. Female athletes showed higher LAEF and LA strain than males, while LACI was not different based on gender.

Structural echocardiographic parameters in male and female Asian athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Introduction Following repetitive structured and intense physical training, elite athletes’ hearts undergo physiological cardiac remodelling, including increased left ventricular (LV) size and LV wall thickness. These changes may mimic those seen in pathological cardiac conditions such as dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, posing a challenge for accurate diagnosis. Reference ranges for common echocardiographic parameters in elite Caucasian and Black athletes have been reported, facilitating differentiation between physiological and pathological changes in these demographics. However, there remains a paucity of data for Asian athletes despite their increasing representation in global sport. Methods We searched MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Database for relevant studies from inception till 20th November 2023. We included observational studies that reported relevant echocardiographic parameters in elite Asian athletes. Studies that did not report gender-specific cardiac imaging parameters were excluded. After study selection and data extraction, random-effects meta-analysis of means was performed to obtain the weighted mean and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of common echocardiographic parameters stratified by gender. Results Our final search yielded 10 studies comprising a total of 1,111 elite athletes (996 male, 115 female; 53% Japanese, 21% uncategorised, 14% South-East Asian). Athletes participating in skill and power disciplines were excluded from analysis post-hoc due to a paucity of data and extreme data ranges. In male athletes, mean LV wall thickness was 9.4 mm (95% CI 8.5-10.3, I2 = 98.9%), mean LV end diastolic diameter was 54.7 mm (95% CI 52.5-57.0, I2 = 98.6%), mean LV mass indexed to body surface area was 97.5 g/m2 (95% CI 90.5-104.5, I2 = 97.5%) and mean aortic root diameter was 31.9 mm (95% CI 29.2-34.7, I2 = 99.5%). In female athletes, mean LV wall thickness was 7.9 mm (95% CI 7.5-8.4, I2 = 85.4%), mean LV end diastolic diameter was 47.1 mm (95% CI 45.8-48.3, I2 = 77.3%), mean LV mass indexed to body surface area was 79.5 g/m2 (95% CI 69.2-89.7, I2 = 92.8%) and mean aortic root diameter was 27.5 mm (95% CI 26.9-28.1). Conclusion This meta-analysis describes commonly reported echocardiographic parameters in elite Asian athletes from endurance and mixed sport disciplines. The absolute values of all reported parameters appear to fall far below reported limits for non-Asian athletes, highlighting substantial ethnic and regional variation in cardiac remodelling in elite athletes. While our results facilitate preliminary referencing of expected normal ranges in this demographic group, further studies are necessary to fully define the cardiac characteristics of Asian athletes.

Nonbinary youth and young adult experiences in organized team sports in Canada

Research concerning sexual and gender minority inclusion in sport has primarily focused on cisgender and binary transgender participants. Participation in organized team sport among nonbinary people is understudied. The goal of this study was to identify the barriers nonbinary people face to entering and remaining in organized team sports in Canada. The Understanding Affirming Communities, Relationships and Networks Study surveyed 6495 15-29-year-olds in Canada, including 2513 nonbinary (encompassing genderqueer, agender, third gender and trans nonbinary) and 1929 cisgender respondents. A smaller proportion of nonbinary respondents (11%) participated in team sport compared to cisgender respondents (18%) (p = 0.001). More nonbinary respondents (62%) have played a sport and then stopped compared to cisgender respondents (57%) (p = 0.0008). The most commonly reported reason nonbinary people felt unsafe in sport was discriminatory comments, with >50% witnessing homophobic, transphobic, and/or sexist comments. Structural and policy changes by organizers, administrators, and coaches can support the inclusion of nonbinary people in organized team sports.