Core Temperature Responses to Elite Racewalking Competition

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Environmental Physiology
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Core temperature regulation is critical during endurance exercise.
• Previous studies focused on recreational athletes and cooling strategies.
• Elite athletes may exhibit different thermoregulatory responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine peak rectal temperatures in elite race walkers during competition.
• To document the cooling strategies employed by these athletes.
• To assess the relationship between high core temperatures and heat illness symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Rectal temperature was measured using telemetric capsules in 14 elite/pre-elite race walkers.
• Data were collected across four outdoor events with varying temperatures and humidity.
• Cooling strategies and heat illness symptoms were recorded.

Main Results:

• Peak rectal temperatures exceeded 40°C in all events, reaching a maximum of 41.2°C.
• High temperatures occurred without significant heat illness, except for one case of cramping.
• Cooling strategies were only used in one event, with no steady-state temperature observed in shorter 10-km races.

Conclusions:

• Elite race walkers can reach dangerously high core temperatures (>40°C) in moderate-warm conditions.
• Existing precooling and midcooling strategies may not be sufficient to prevent extreme hyperthermia.
• Further research is needed on effective thermoregulation for elite endurance athletes in heat.