Abstract
Aim. – Performances in Olympic triathlon Age Groups World Championships were analysed to evaluate the decline in maximal performance
with increasing age in male and female triathletes.
Method. – Mean performance of top ten performers were analysed for each group of age during the last Age Groups World Championships
events using the exponential model proposed by Baker et al. [Exp Aging Res 29 (2003) 47–65]. Constants of the exponential model were compared
between men and women.
Results and discussion. – The decline in triathlon performance follows the exponential model. The statistical analysis shows a significant gender effect on the period of decrease in performance. In male subjects, performance loss does not appears before 45 years, whereas in female, it appears earlier (40 years). In both populations, significant decrease is observed after 50 years.
Conclusion. – Our study during a multimodal mode of locomotion activity is in agreement with previous results reported during an unimodal
activity. However, triathlon performance decline appears later suggesting an effect of locomotion mode. In this study, gender effect is similar with those reported previously. Further explicative studies are necessary to analyse these observations.

PS :
Frédéric Sultana won the Master division (> 40 years old) at the Long Distance Triathlon National Championship in 2008.

see also : http://frederic-sultana.onlinetri.com

Sultana et al. Science & Sports (2008)