Rendimiento de atletas de levantamiento de potencia (Powerlifting) durante su vida / The Performance of Powerlifting Athletes During Their Lifetime

Resumen Esta investigación realizó una minería de datos de hombres y mujeres atletas de levantamiento de potencia (comúnmente conocido como powerlifting), para las clases: Levantamiento de potencia equipado, Levantamiento de potencia clásico, Press de banca equipado y Press de banca clásico, reconocidas por la Federación Internacional de Powerlifting (IPF). Se realizó un análisis de regresión no lineal basado en la edad versus la media de los puntajes: Wilks Points, IPF Points o IPF GoodLift Points. Se obtuvo la curva mejor ajustada y la edad con el máximo rendimiento para cada clase. En general, el rendimiento para todas las clases de hombres y mujeres en Levantamiento de potencia y Press de banca comienza con un crecimiento exponencial desde la juventud hasta cerca de la tercera década, y muestra un rendimiento máximo entre 27,67 a 31,50 años, y luego una disminución lineal durante la edad madura y edad avanzada. La comparación entre hombres y mujeres, o grupos de atletas equipados y clásicos no muestra diferencias significativas para la edad del rendimiento máximo, lo que sugiere el mismo reloj de envejecimiento biológico. El deporte de levantamiento de potencia es un modelo útil para estudiar el crecimiento, la maduración y el envejecimiento del ser humano.

Abstract This research performed data mining for men and women powerlifters for the categories of Equipped Powerlifting, Classic Powerlifting, Equipped Bench Press, and Classic Bench Press, recognized by the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF). It then conducted a nonlinear regression analysis based on age versus mean scores in terms of Wilks Points, IPF Points, and IPF GoodLift Points to obtain the fitted curve and the age of peak performance for each category. Overall, the performance for all categories of men and women in powerlifting and bench press starts with exponential growth from youth until close to the third decade, showing a peak performance between 27.67 to 31.50 years of age, and then a linear decrease during maturation and older age. Comparisons between men and women and between equipped and classic athletes do not show meaningful differences in age of peak performance, suggesting the same biological clock in terms of aging. The sport of powerlifting offers a useful model to study human beings' growth, maturation, and aging.

Resumo Esta pesquisa realizou uma garimpagem de dados de atletas masculinos e femininos do levantamento de peso (comumente conhecido como powerlifting), para as classes: levantamento de peso equipado, levantamento de peso clássico, Press de banco equipado e Press de banco clássico, reconhecidos pela Federação Internacional de Powerlifting (IPF). Uma análise de regressão não linear foi realizada com base na idade versus pontuação média: Wilks Points, IPF Points ou IPF GoodLift Points. Foi obtida a melhor curva ajustada e idade com o melhor desempenho para cada classe. Em geral, o desempenho para todas as classes de homens e mulheres em levantamento de potência e Press de banco começa com um crescimento exponencial da juventude até próximo a terceira década, mostrando um desempenho máximo entre 27,67 a 31,50 anos, e depois uma diminuição linear durante a idade madura e a idade avançada. A comparação entre homens e mulheres, ou atletas equipados e clássicos, não mostra diferenças significativas para a idade do melhor desempenho, sugerindo o mesmo relógio do envelhecimento biológico. O esporte de levantamento de peso é um modelo útil para estudar o crescimento, a maturação e o envelhecimento humano.

Investigando los momentos óptimos en el deporte: una revisión del constructo flow / Researching peak moments in sport: a review of flow / Pesquisando os momentos ótimos no esporte: uma revisão do conceito flow

El objetivo del artículo es analizar el desarrollo del concepto flow y su evolución epistemológica en el ámbito de la investigación deportiva. Se sugiere que la investigación sobre el flow se ha movido desde un interés inicial por describir estas experiencias, hacia una predilección por medirlo y controlarlo, de cara a predecir y facilitar el rendimiento deportivo. Esta evolución se ha materializado sin que la definición y delimitación del constructo haya sido resuelta satisfactoriamente. El artículo propone retomar la atención en la naturaleza lingüís- tica del flow y profundizar así en el significado que tienen estas experiencias para quienes las experimentan.

The objective of this paper is to analyze the of flow concept and its epistemolog- ical evolution within sport research. The analysis highlights that the investigation about flow changed its's initial interest in describing these experiences to privilege its’ measuring and control, aiming to predict and to facilitate sport performance. Nevertheless, this evolution has been materialized with no satisfactory definition or delimitation of this concept. This arti- cle suggests to retake the care with the linguistic nature of flow and to deepen, this way, the meaning of these experiences to those who live them.

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar o conceito de flow e sua evolução epistemológica no âmbito da pesquisa esportiva. A análise destaca que a investigação sobre o flow mudou seu interesse inicial em descrever estas experiências, para privilegiar sua medição e controle, a fim de prever e facilitar o desempenho atlético. Entretanto, essa evolução tem se materializado sem que a definição e delimitação desse conceito tenham sido concebidas satisfatoriamente. O artigo sugere retomar o cuidado da natureza linguística de flow e aprofundar, desse modo, o que significam essas experiências para quem as vive.

Runners in their forties dominate ultra-marathons from 50 to 3,100 miles

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated performance trends and the age of peak running speed in ultra-marathons from 50 to 3,100 miles. METHODS: The running speed and age of the fastest competitors in 50-, 100-, 200-, 1,000- and 3,100-mile events held worldwide from 1971 to 2012 were analyzed using single- and multi-level regression analyses. RESULTS: The number of events and competitors increased exponentially in 50- and 100-mile events. For the annual fastest runners, women improved in 50-mile events, but not men. In 100-mile events, both women and men improved their performance. In 1,000-mile events, men became slower. For the annual top ten runners, women improved in 50- and 100-mile events, whereas the performance of men remained unchanged in 50- and 3,100-mile events but improved in 100-mile events. The age of the annual fastest runners was approximately 35 years for both women and men in 50-mile events and approximately 35 years for women in 100-mile events. For men, the age of the annual fastest runners in 100-mile events was higher at 38 years. For the annual fastest runners of 1,000-mile events, the women were approximately 43 years of age, whereas for men, the age increased to 48 years of age. For the annual fastest runners of 3,100-mile events, the age in women decreased to 35 years and was approximately 39 years in men. CONCLUSION: The running speed of the fastest competitors increased for both women and men in 100-mile events but only for women in 50-mile events. The age of peak running speed increased in men with increasing race distance to approximately 45 years in 1,000-mile events, whereas it decreased to approximately 39 years in 3,100-mile events. In women, the upper age of peak running speed increased to approximately 51 years in 3,100-mile events. .