Schouweiler, C. M., & Stray-Gundersen, J. (2002). Individual variation in the decrease of VO2 at 1800 m in elite female cross-country skiers. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 34(5), Supplement abstract 1246.

Elite female cross-country skiers (N = 8) skated on a treadmill at normoxia and hypoxia that approximated 1800 m.

The average VO2 and oxygen saturation in the blood were significantly reduced at 1800m. There was a large interindividual variation in the size of the reductions. The decrease in oxygen uptake was only moderately related to oxygen saturation.

Implication. The modest hypoxia associated with an altitude of 1800 m is sufficient to produce a pulmonary limitation in trained elite endurance athletes.

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