The age-related decline in Olympic distance triathlon performance differs between males and females

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare the age-related declines in swimming, cycling, and running and overall race times between males and females in an Olympic distance triathlon, the 'Zürich Triathlon' in Switzerland. Swimming (1.5 km), cycling (40 km), running (10 km) and overall race times of 7939 total finishers (1666 females and 6273 males) from 2000 to 2010 in the "Zürich Triathlon" were analysed. There was a significant (P40 years) and for overall race time (>40 years). These data suggest that the age and gender interactions in an Olympic distance triathlon performance differ between the three locomotion modes. Further studies investigating training regimes, competition experience or socio-demographic factors are needed to get a better insight in the phenomenon of the gender specific age-related declines in endurance performance.