A Medal in the Olympics Runs in the Family: A Cohort Study of Performance Heritability in the Games History

Introduction: Elite performance in sports is known to be influenced by heritable components, but the magnitude of such an influence has never been quantified.Hypothesis/Objectives: We hypothesized that having a former world-class champion in the family increases the chances of an athlete to repeat the achievement of her or his kinship. We aimed to measure the heritability of a medal in the Olympic Games (OG) among Olympians and to estimate the percentage of the genetic contribution to such a heritance.Study Design: Twin-family study of a retrospective cohort.Methods: All the 125,051 worldwide athletes that have participated in the OG between 1896 and 2012 were included. The expected probability to win a medal in the OG was defined as the frequency of medallists among Olympians without any blood kinship in the OG. This expected probability was compared with the probability to win a medal for Olympians having a kinship (grandparent, aunt/uncle, parent, or siblings) with a former Olympian that was a (1) non-medallist or (2) medallist. The heritability of the genetically determined phenotype (h2) was assessed by probandwise concordance rates among dizygotic (DZ) and monozygotic (MZ) twins (n = 90).Results: The expected probability to win a medal in the OG was 20.4%. No significant difference of medal probability was found in the subgroups of Olympians with a Non-medallist kinship, except among siblings for whom this probability was lower: 13.3% (95% CI 11.2–14.8). The medal probability was significantly greater among Olympians having a kinship with a former Olympic Medallist: 44.4% for niece/nephew (33.7–54.2); 43.4% for offspring (37.4–48.6); 64.8% for siblings (61.2–68.8); 75.5% for DZ twins (63.3–86.6); and 85.7% for MZ twins (63.6–96.9); with significantly greater concordance between MZ than DZ (p = 0.01) and h2 estimated at 20.5%.Conclusion: Having a kinship with a former Olympic medallist is associated with a greater probability for an Olympian to also become a medallist, the closer an athlete is genetically to such kinship the greater this probability. Once in the OG, the genetic contribution to win a medal is estimated to be 20.5%

At the frontiers of performances : a comparative approach of the relationship between locomotion and age for different species

L’organisation biologique, du niveau moléculaire jusqu’au niveau des performances de l’organisme. La locomotion est une fonction neurophysiologique hautement intégrée illustrant un tel processus multi-échelle. Le déclin des performances de locomotion avec l’âge, comme la vitesse maximale, a été observé pour de nombreuses espèces, aussi bien en captivité qu’en milieu naturel. Cependant, ces descriptions restent souvent succinctes, sans précision sur la progression de ces performances au cours du vieillissement. Dans ces travaux, nous utilisons une équation bi-phasique pour décrire la relation entre performance de locomotion et âge sur l’ensemble de la durée de la vie pour Caenorhabditis elegans, Mus domesticus, Canis familiaris, Equus caballus et Homo sapiens. Les performances maximales de locomotion se révèlent être des bio-marqueurs robustes pour suivre la progression des performances sur l’ensemble de la durée de vie des animaux, permettant ainsi d’estimer le pic physiologique et le début du déclin des performances. De plus, dans tous les cas, nous remarquons que la forme de progression des performances maximales selon l’âge est similaire et conservée d’une espèce à l’autre ; seule varie la pente dans le temps, dépendant de l’espèce et la performance mesurée. L’observation des performances selon le genre ne montre pas de différence dans la forme de l’enveloppe. Néanmoins, elle révèle des écarts variables dans les performances maximales entre femelles et mâles selon les espèces. Enfin, les conditions thermiques affectent les performances maximales de locomotion, mais la forme de l’enveloppe reste aussi préservée. Nous avons ensuite étudié le développement et l’expansion de cette dynamique au cours du siècle dernier pour les performances athlétiques maximales d’Homo sapiens. Cette étude révèle que la forme s’est progressivement précisée au cours du temps en s’étendant à tous les âges et suivant homothétiquement la progression des records du monde. Néanmoins, la progression semble ralentir au cours des dernières décennies, laissant présager l’atteinte possible des limites biologiques d’Homo sapiens. Ces travaux offrent de nouvelles perspectives sur l’utilité des approches comparatives et l’utilisation d’un bio-marqueur comme les performances de locomotion pour suivre les dynamiques sur l’ensemble de la durée de vie à différentes échelles. Elles apportent aussi un regard novateur sur la progression des performances avec l’âge, en intégrant à la fois les processus de développement et de vieillissement, permettant ainsi de préciser les pics physiologiques et la forme des progressions des performances sur toute la durée de la vie.Aging is a complex, multi-scale process that affects all levels of biological organization from molecular structure to individual behavior. Locomotion is a highly integrated neurophysiological function that illustrates this process. The functional decline in locomotion with age has been described in a wide-range of species, both domestic and wild, and appears as a common aspect of senescence among animals. However, in most cases these descriptions remain incomplete and the dynamics of age-related changes are poorly understood. Here, we use a conceptual feature to describe age-related changes in locomotor performances for Caenorhabditis elegans, Mus domesticus, Canis familiaris, Equus caballus and Homo sapiens. We show that measurements of locomotor performance are consistent biomarkers of age-related changes, with a well preserved pattern regardless of the type of effort or duration. We also show that age-related pattern for locomotor performance are modulated by gender and environment. Nevertheless, in every case, the pattern remains similar and very well preserved. The second part of this work introduces the concept of phenotypic expansion and focuses on the expansion of the age-related pattern for Homo sapiens during the last century. Since the first edition of modern Olympic Games in 1896, athletes have consistently improved previous records, echoing scientific and industrial progress. Their data constitute privileged and accurate biomarkers, as sport performances reflect highly integrated neuro-physiological traits based on complex multifactorial interactions. Following the progression of the world records, the age-related pattern expanded gradually during the 20th century. However, the last decades show a slow-down in the expansion, following again the recent asymptotic levelling off of world records, which no longer supports the historical motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius”. This work provides new insights about the utility of an age-based comparative approach to provide a thorough understanding of aging processes and also for gaining insights into aging at different levels of biological organization and in an evolutionary perspective

Aux frontières des performances : approche comparative de la relation entre locomotion et âge pour différentes espèces

Aging is a complex, multi-scale process that affects all levels of biological organization from molecular structure to individual behavior. Locomotion is a highly integrated neurophysiological function that illustrates this process. The functional decline in locomotion with age has been described in a wide-range of species, both domestic and wild, and appears as a common aspect of senescence among animals. However, in most cases these descriptions remain incomplete and the dynamics of age-related changes are poorly understood. Here, we use a conceptual feature to describe age-related changes in locomotor performances for Caenorhabditis elegans, Mus domesticus, Canis familiaris, Equus caballus and Homo sapiens. We show that measurements of locomotor performance are consistent biomarkers of age-related changes, with a well preserved pattern regardless of the type of effort or duration. We also show that age-related pattern for locomotor performance are modulated by gender and environment. Nevertheless, in every case, the pattern remains similar and very well preserved. The second part of this work introduces the concept of phenotypic expansion and focuses on the expansion of the age-related pattern for Homo sapiens during the last century. Since the first edition of modern Olympic Games in 1896, athletes have consistently improved previous records, echoing scientific and industrial progress. Their data constitute privileged and accurate biomarkers, as sport performances reflect highly integrated neuro-physiological traits based on complex multifactorial interactions. Following the progression of the world records, the age-related pattern expanded gradually during the 20th century. However, the last decades show a slow-down in the expansion, following again the recent asymptotic levelling off of world records, which no longer supports the historical motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius”. This work provides new insights about the utility of an age-based comparative approach to provide a thorough understanding of aging processes and also for gaining insights into aging at different levels of biological organization and in an evolutionary perspective.L’organisation biologique, du niveau moléculaire jusqu’au niveau des performances de l’organisme. La locomotion est une fonction neurophysiologique hautement intégrée illustrant un tel processus multi-échelle. Le déclin des performances de locomotion avec l’âge, comme la vitesse maximale, a été observé pour de nombreuses espèces, aussi bien en captivité qu’en milieu naturel. Cependant, ces descriptions restent souvent succinctes, sans précision sur la progression de ces performances au cours du vieillissement. Dans ces travaux, nous utilisons une équation bi-phasique pour décrire la relation entre performance de locomotion et âge sur l’ensemble de la durée de la vie pour Caenorhabditis elegans, Mus domesticus, Canis familiaris, Equus caballus et Homo sapiens. Les performances maximales de locomotion se révèlent être des bio-marqueurs robustes pour suivre la progression des performances sur l’ensemble de la durée de vie des animaux, permettant ainsi d’estimer le pic physiologique et le début du déclin des performances. De plus, dans tous les cas, nous remarquons que la forme de progression des performances maximales selon l’âge est similaire et conservée d’une espèce à l’autre ; seule varie la pente dans le temps, dépendant de l’espèce et la performance mesurée. L’observation des performances selon le genre ne montre pas de différence dans la forme de l’enveloppe. Néanmoins, elle révèle des écarts variables dans les performances maximales entre femelles et mâles selon les espèces. Enfin, les conditions thermiques affectent les performances maximales de locomotion, mais la forme de l’enveloppe reste aussi préservée. Nous avons ensuite étudié le développement et l’expansion de cette dynamique au cours du siècle dernier pour les performances athlétiques maximales d’Homo sapiens. Cette étude révèle que la forme s’est progressivement précisée au cours du temps en s’étendant à tous les âges et suivant homothétiquement la progression des records du monde. Néanmoins, la progression semble ralentir au cours des dernières décennies, laissant présager l’atteinte possible des limites biologiques d’Homo sapiens. Ces travaux offrent de nouvelles perspectives sur l’utilité des approches comparatives et l’utilisation d’un bio-marqueur comme les performances de locomotion pour suivre les dynamiques sur l’ensemble de la durée de vie à différentes échelles. Elles apportent aussi un regard novateur sur la progression des performances avec l’âge, en intégrant à la fois les processus de développement et de vieillissement, permettant ainsi de préciser les pics physiologiques et la forme des progressions des performances sur toute la durée de la vie

L’innovation en sport de haut niveau : perspectives au cœur d’un processus individualisé

L’innovation peut se définir comme l’introduction d’une pratique nouvelle de manière durable dans la construction de la performance sportive. Cette pratique nouvelle peut être associée à une discipline, une structure d’entraînement (établissement, club, groupe d’entraînement) ou même un athlète. Elle peut prendre différentes formes, comme l’introduction d’un changement technique, d’un produit technologique ou encore d’un changement dans l’environnement de l’athlète. Le processus d’innovation, c’est-à-dire les différentes étapes menant à l’intégration d’une nouvelle pratique durable reste hautement individualisé. En effet, il existe actuellement autant de processus d’innovation en sport de haut niveau que d’entraîneurs et d’athlètes. La singularité de ce processus en étant une des explications principales, il dépend en effet du vécu et de l’expérience, des ressources à disposition et de l’environnement de la pratique.De nombreux outils technologiques sont actuellement vendus avec une vocation à optimiser la performance sportive. S’il est bon d’oser innover, il est important d’avoir un regard critique sur les outils proposés et de bien s’entourer pour évaluer leur pertinence, fiabilité, précision et impact réel sur la performance sportive. Le timing de l’introduction d’une nouvelle pratique est également essentiel, le processus d’innovation se faisant souvent sur un temps relativement long. En France, la mise en place de référents scientifiques au sein des fédérations comme dans les établissements du ministère des Sports rend possible la création de nouvelles interfaces entre les besoins « terrains » explicités par les entraîneurs et les athlètes et les savoir-faire des différents acteurs de la recherche et de l’innovation. En travaillant sur les besoins individualisés des athlètes et entraîneurs, les référents scientifiques apparaissent comme des agents d’innovation déterminants en sport de haut niveau. Les référents scientifiques participent ainsi activement à une nouvelle dynamique d’innovation ouverte. Celle-ci recouvre différentes pratiques visant à faciliter et à stimuler le processus d’innovation en s’ouvrant sur les savoir-faire scientifiques et technologiques extérieurs, notamment des laboratoires de recherche ou des entreprises. Dans cette logique, différentes approches agiles et centrées usagers (comme le design-thinking ou le co-design) facilitent l’expression des besoins et stimulent l’introduction de nouvelles pratiques de manière durable. Ce chapitre réunit ainsi tous les ingrédients afin de s’engager dans un cercle vertueux pour oser innover

BMI, a Performance Parameter for Speed Improvement

International audienceThe purpose of this study is to investigate the association between anthropometric characteristics and performance in all track and field running events and assess Body Mass Index (BMI) as a relevant performance indicator. Data of mass, height, BMI and speed were collected for the top 100 international men athletes in track events from 100 m to marathon for the 1996–2011 seasons, and analyzed by decile of performance. Speed is significantly associated with mass (r = 0.71) and BMI (r = 0.71) in world-class runners and moderately with height (r = 0.39). Athletes, on average were continuously lighter and smaller with distance increments. In track and field, speed continuously increases with BMI. In each event, performances are organized through physique gradients. «Lighter and smaller is better» in endurance events but «heavier and taller is better» for sprints. When performance increases, BMI variability progressively tightens, but it is always centered around a distance-specific optimum. Running speed is organized through biometric gradients, which both drives and are driven by performance optimization. The highest performance level is associated with narrower biometric intervals. Through BMI indicators, diversity is possible for sprints whereas for long distance events, there is a more restrictive aspect in terms of physique. BMI is a relevant indicator, which allows for a clear differentiation of athletes' capacities between each discipline and level of performance in the fields of human possibilities

Learning From Leaders: Life-span Trends in Olympians and Supercentenarians

International audienceLifespan trends progression has worldwide practical implications as it may affect the sustainability of modern societies. We aimed to describe the secular lifespan trends of populations with a propensity to live longer—Olympians and super-centenarians—under two hypotheses: an ongoing lifespan extension versus a biologic " probabilistic barrier " limiting further progression. In a study of lifespan densities (total number of life durations per birth date), we analyzed 19,012 Olympians and 1,205 supercentenarians deceased between 1900 and 2013. Among most Olympians, we observed a trend toward increased life duration. This trend, however, decelerates at advanced ages leveling off with the upper values with a perennial gap between Olympians and supercentenarians during the whole observation period. Similar tendencies are observed among supercentenarians, and over the last years, a plateau attests to a stable longevity pattern among the longest-lived humans. The common trends between Olympians and supercentenarians indicate similar mortality pressures over both populations that increase with age, scenario better explained by a biologic " barrier " forecast

A Medal in the Olympics Runs in the Family: A Cohort Study of Performance Heritability in the Games History

International audienceIntroduction: Elite performance in sports is known to be influenced by heritable components, but the magnitude of such an influence has never been quantified.Hypothesis/Objectives: We hypothesized that having a former world-class champion in the family increases the chances of an athlete to repeat the achievement of her or his kinship. We aimed to measure the heritability of a medal in the Olympic Games (OG) among Olympians and to estimate the percentage of the genetic contribution to such a heritance.Study Design: Twin-family study of a retrospective cohort.Methods: All the 125,051 worldwide athletes that have participated in the OG between 1896 and 2012 were included. The expected probability to win a medal in the OG was defined as the frequency of medallists among Olympians without any blood kinship in the OG. This expected probability was compared with the probability to win a medal for Olympians having a kinship (grandparent, aunt/uncle, parent, or siblings) with a former Olympian that was a (1) non-medallist or (2) medallist. The heritability of the genetically determined phenotype (h2) was assessed by probandwise concordance rates among dizygotic (DZ) and monozygotic (MZ) twins (n = 90).Results: The expected probability to win a medal in the OG was 20.4%. No significant difference of medal probability was found in the subgroups of Olympians with a Non-medallist kinship, except among siblings for whom this probability was lower: 13.3% (95% CI 11.2–14.8). The medal probability was significantly greater among Olympians having a kinship with a former Olympic Medallist: 44.4% for niece/nephew (33.7–54.2); 43.4% for offspring (37.4–48.6); 64.8% for siblings (61.2–68.8); 75.5% for DZ twins (63.3–86.6); and 85.7% for MZ twins (63.6–96.9); with significantly greater concordance between MZ than DZ (p = 0.01) and h2 estimated at 20.5%.Conclusion: Having a kinship with a former Olympic medallist is associated with a greater probability for an Olympian to also become a medallist, the closer an athlete is genetically to such kinship the greater this probability. Once in the OG, the genetic contribution to win a medal is estimated to be 20.5%

Age-Related Changes in Para and Wheelchair Racing Athlete’s Performances

International audienceDuring the last decades, all para-athletes with disabilities have significantly increased their performance level due to technological progress and human investment, through better training or recovery protocols, medical care and nutritional monitoring. Among these elements, the athlete's age is one of the determining factors in performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of age on maximal performances for para-athletes and wheelchair racing athletes, scaled on able-bodied records. We collected 53,554 results including athlete's best performance of the year, event, age and disability classification from the International Paralympic Committee competitions between 2009 and 2017 for both female and male para-athletics and wheelchair racing disciplines for a total of 472 sport events in Track and Field (considering each impairment type for each event) and gathered the all-time able-bodied records from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) at the end of 2017. Maximal performance by age was fitted with the Moore function for each para-athletics and wheelchair racing event. This study finds a similar age-related pattern in maximal performance among para-athletes and wheelchair racing athletes. The age at peak performance varies according to sex, impairment type and event and increases gradually from sprint to endurance events. The best Top 100 performances include a large age range suggesting that performance has probably not been optimized yet for most elite para-athletes and wheelchair racers. The next Paralympic Games of Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 will certainly offer exceptional performance

Dopage : l'analyse statistique des résultats au secours du laboratoire...

Les tests biologiques n’étant pas infaillibles, il serait peut-être intéressant à l’avenir, et à l’instar du passeport biologique, de coupler à l’amélioration de ces tests, d’autres méthodes pour détecter les pratiques dopantes. Certains outils statistiques permettraient ainsi de mesurer la cohérence des performances et de révéler certaines progressions atypiques. Les performances suivent en effet des couloirs de progression avec une variabilité intrinsèque à l’athlète et des limites. Une progression rapide qui s’accompagne d’un changement de couloir notable pourrait ainsi être le témoin de pratiques illicites