Research on performance at altitude receives funding – investment in elite athletes in Östersund

Mon 13 Jan 2025 10:16

Researcher Øyvind Karlsson has been granted funding for a project that investigates how simulated high altitude affects the performance of elite athletes. The project focuses on understanding how different factors that affect performance in endurance sports are influenced by high altitude.

Rullskidåkare i ett rum med rullband syns genom ett fönster. I förgrunden en dataskärm. Inklippt porträtt på en man.
The high-altitude lab at Mid Sweden University is unique in Scandinavia, inset photo of Øyvind Karlsson. Photo: Tina Stafrén and Pelle Fredriksson.

"It was a positive surprise. You don't always dare to hope for this kind of information, but this gives us the opportunity to carry out important studies," says Øyvind Karlsson.

High-altitude training increasingly important

The importance of high-altitude training is growing, not least because international rules and championships are changing. As of this season, FIS – the International Ski and Snowboard Federation – has raised the limit for competition altitude from 1,800 to 2,000 meters, and several upcoming Olympics and World Championships will be held at high altitude.

"High-altitude training is becoming increasingly important, both to prepare for competitions and to deal with future challenges such as climate change," says Øyvind.

Focus on durability

Øyvind's project is titled "Effects of simulated acute altitude exposure on durability in endurance athletes". The concept of durability describes an athlete's ability to maintain performance over time, even after hard work. The study will investigate how elite cross-country skiers are affected by simulated altitude acutely, the next step is to see the impact after a training camp at high altitude. 

The Swedish Research Council for Sport Science funds the project with just over one million kronor.

"We want to understand how training and competition at altitude affect athletes' durability. It's also about calculating the training load more accurately and adapting the training better for each individual," says Øyvind.

The researchers will conduct their tests at the National Winter Sports Centre in Östersund, where they can access one of Sweden's most advanced high-altitude facilities. Øyvind emphasizes the importance of the high-altitude lab:

"The facilities in Östersund allow us to conduct research at a level difficult to match in other places in Scandinavia. It is a unique resource.

Collaboration with elite athletes

Participants will be elite skiers who compete at the highest level in Sweden. Øyvind sees a potential to strengthen the collaboration with both federations and active athletes through the project.

"We hope to contribute knowledge that not only benefits research but also directly helps the athletes in their efforts," he says.

The project will initially extend over a year, but there are opportunities to extend if the results show success and continued progression.

Elite research at the forefront

By combining research on longevity with high altitude, Øyvind and his team hope to contribute to the development of both training methods and athletic performance. Östersund, which is already a centre for winter sports, will thus receive yet another strong research investment that strengthens the city's profile as a hub for elite sports.

Swedish Research Council for Sport Science

Contact:

Øyvind Karlsson, oyvind.karlsson@miun.se, 010-1428846

Contact


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The page was updated 1/13/2025