Study finds body type can give advantage for some athletes, in certain climates

A new study conducted in the United States aims to explore whether athletes' performance can be influenced by climate conditions. The study focuses on analyzing data from Ironman competitions to investigate whether certain athletes excel more than others based on varying climate factors.

Ryan Calsbeek, a professor of biological sciences at Dartmouth College, conducted a study analyzing data from nearly 200 participants in Ironman triathlons over a span of 20 years. The study focused on examining whether the temperature on the day of the competition had any impact on the contestants' performance. The Ironman triathlon is a long distance race that includes swimming, biking, and running, typically lasting around 10 to 15 hours.

The study found that there was no significant difference in performance based on during the swimming or cycling portions of the Ironman race. However, a correlation was observed between an athlete's physique and their performance in the marathon segment of the race. This trend, however, was observed only among male athletes.