Oxygen Consumption

The maximum oxygen consumption is a very important parameter in the world of sports performance as it is the best indicator of aerobic power.
Know the maximum oxygen consumption is essential in certain sports disciplines such as athletics, especially in races of middle-distance and long; in cycling, rowing, etc. , depending on
Garcia Meek (1996),
oxygen consumption represents the volume of oxygen consumed during any kind of effort, and indicates the ability of the agency for the use of the same. Any increase in the intensdidad a exercise determines a parallel increase in VO2 (oxygen consumption) but from a certain level, the oxygen consumption does not increase more although the intensity of the effort. This is when it is said that the subject has reached its maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) and represents a key indicator for measuring the possibilities of the subject to prolonged effort of low intensity.
This parameter can be very uneven in individuals and depends on the performance of the same. In a sedentary person who do not perform physical activity in a systematic way, i.e. that do not perform any type of physical exercise or sport, we find that its maximum oxygen consumption oscillates around the 28 ml/kg/min for both men and women.
However, those people that at some point began to participate in sports and in particular the endurance training have a maximum oxygen consumption significantly higher. We would be talking about around 55 to 65 ml/kg/min.
If we take as reference the next step in performance would be talking about the resistance sports, those people who are dedicated to the sport, in particular of resistance. This group can have a maximum oxygen consumption from 65 ml/kg/min up to 85 ml/kg/min.
The crème de la crème of the would be the elite athletes of resistance, the top. They can have values of maximum oxygen consumption of 85 ml/kg/min up to 90 ml/kg/min.  The greatest value of VO2max obtained in history is Bjørn Dahlie, a cross-country skier with 8 olympic golds.