It’s a common trope in sport science that athletes should choose their parents wisely, due to the importance of genetics in determining ultimate athletic capacity. To add to that imaginary wish list, should we make sure we’re born at high altitude? The Benefits of Altitude
If you have any interest in mountaineering, the word Sherpa has a powerful connotation of extreme-altitude mountaineers with almost mythical work capacity at altitude. Their work as porters, route setters, and guides have been instrumental in nearly every Himalayan expedition over the past century plus.
In endurance sports, the role of genetics and also altitude is a key interest. This can be seen in the dominance of east Africans from high altitudes in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Eritrea on distance running. And since the 80s and the Colombian invasion of Europe and the Tour de France, led by Lucho Herrera, the high altitudes of the Andes has been posited as part of their dominance whenever the road tilts upwards.
Scientifically, we know that there are clear adaptive changes when lowland natives spend time at altitude, and that’s the entire premise of the extensive altitude camps undertaken by top professionals. These typically include an increase in total hemoglobin mass, changes in lactate buffering capacity, and improvements in cycling economy.
Up Where We Belong
But what, if any, are the benefits from being born at high altitudes or spending your key early development years at altitude? This was the focus of an article studying Colombian cyclists across a range […]
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