Repeated Sprint Performance in Male and Female College Athletes Matched for VO sub(2)max Relative to Fat Free Mass

The purpose of this study was to examine gender differences in repeated sprint exercise (RSE) performance among male and female athletes matched for VO sub(2)max relative to FFM (VO sub(2)max FFM). Thirty nine male and female college athletes performed a graded exercise test for VO sub(2)max and hydrostatic weighing to determine FFM. From the results, 11 pairs of males and females matched for VO sub(2)max FFM (mean plus or minus SD; 58.3 plus or minus 4.3 and 58.9 plus or minus 4.6 ml times kg FFM super(-1) times min super(-1); men and women, respectively) were identified. On a separate day, matched participants performed a RSE protocol that consisted of five 6-sec cycle sprints with 30-sec recovery periods, followed by 5-min active recovery and a 30-sec all-out sprint. Repeated 6-sec sprint performance did not differ between men and women; both maintained power output (PO) until sprint 4. PO sub(FFM) (W times kg super(-1) FFM) did not differ between men and women during the five sprints. During the 30-sec sprint, men achieved a lower peak PO sub(FFM) than women (11.7 plus or minus 1.5 vs 13.2 plus or minus 1.2); however, the decline in PO sub(FFM) over 30 sec was gTeater in women. VO sub(2) (ml times kg FFM super(-1) times min super(-1)) was lower in men during recovery (24.4 plus or minus 3.8 vs 28.7 plus or minus 5.7) and at the beginning (29.2 plus or minus 4.0 vs 34.7 plus or minus 4.9) and end (49.4 plus or minus 5.0 vs 52.3 plus or minus 4.0). of the 30-sec sprint. These data indicate that men and women with similar aerobic capacities do not respond differently to short repeated sprints but may differ in their ability to recover and perform sprints of longer duration.