A comprehensive 10-year analysis of elite sports performances has revealed that men’s physiological advantages over women become even more pronounced during uphill competitions compared to events on flat terrain.
The research, published in the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, examined performance data from 2013 to 2022 across six different uphill sports disciplines, including speed climbing, ski mountaineering, mountain running, cycling, cross-country skiing, and ultratrail running.
While traditional endurance sports on flat terrain typically show a 10-12% performance gap between men and women, the study found this difference increases to 18-22% in uphill events. In shorter uphill competitions, such as sport climbing and vertical kilometer races, the gap widens even further to 28-35%.
Lead researcher Grégoire P. Millet and his team attribute these larger differences to several key physiological factors. “Women have generally lower body size and lean-to-fat-mass ratio, lower maximal anaerobic power due to a lower muscle mass, and fewer fast-twitch fibers,” the study notes.
‘The sex differences are generally larger (18%-22%) than in endurance sports performed primarily on flat terrains. This may be due to the lower lean- to fat-mass ratio commonly reported in women. In shorter uphill events (eg, sport climbing, vertical kilometer, and short climb in cycling), the sex differences appear even more pronounced (28%-35%), potentially being explained by additional factors (eg, anaerobic capacity, muscle composition, and upper-body contribution).’
The findings suggest that the additional challenge of vertical displacement amplifies the impact of these physiological differences, particularly in burst, short-duration events that require significant upper body strength and anaerobic capacity.
This research has intriguing implications for mixed martial arts, particularly in weight classes where physical attributes like lean muscle mass, anaerobic power, and fast-twitch muscle fibers are critical to performance. MMA often requires sudden movements, bursts of power, and sustained endurance during grappling exchanges or clinch battles, especially against the cage. The physiological differences highlighted in the study—such as the lower lean-to-fat mass ratio and anaerobic capacity in women—may partly explain why men’s divisions tend to exhibit faster-paced, higher-power exchanges.
However, the researchers also highlighted some advantages women possess, including “higher resistance to fatigue or greater metabolic flexibility than men,” though these benefits appear insufficient to overcome the increased challenges posed by uphill competition.
This groundbreaking analysis provides valuable insights for athletes, coaches, and sports scientists, potentially influencing how training programs and competitions are structured for both men and women in these disciplines.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39732139/
Trans MMA Star blames ‘moral panic’ for inability to book MMA return
In a recent interview Alana McLaughlin discussed the challenges she faces in booking her return to professional MMA. McLaughlin, who last competed in 2021, attributes her difficulty in securing another bout to the current climate of misinformation and moral panic surrounding transgender athletes.
McLaughlin expressed frustration with the widespread misconceptions about trans athletes’ advantages, citing the recent controversy at the Olympics that didn’t even involve a transgender competitor.
‘With the landscape as it is right now, I’m not sure. Maybe the documentary can move the needle. But, looking at the outrage there was with the Olympics, which didn’t even involve a trans person, everyone was ready to go all in on a complete fabrication. There’s definitely a moral panic happening, and it’s impacting my ability to get (booked).”‘
