Structural and Functional Assessments on a Champion Runner—Peter Snell

Abstract

A unique opportunity was presented when a world record holder, Peter Snell, volunteered for medical, anthropometric, and physiologic study at the San Diego State Physical Education Research Laboratory.

The medical examination resulted in a tentative diagnosis of an irritable colon syndrome. Other data from assessment of history, further physical examination, and blood and urine analysis are presented.

The anthropometric data were used to assess somatotype, to make comparison with data collected on Snell in 1960, and to make comparisons with other gifted athletes.

Maximal oxygen uptake was determined by a run to exhaustion on a horizontal treadmill. Snell's max V0₂ of 5.502 L/min. is the highest reported for a runner. Moreover, he was able to maintain an uptake exceeding 5.25 L/min. for the final 3.5 minutes. His uptake of 72.3 ml/min./kg was close to the mean of Åstrand's runners, but below the values reported for Lash and Landy. Other physiologic responses were not unusual for an elite athlete.

Discussion indicated that Snell's performance in the 0₂ uptake test may have been affected by his mild illness, and that his excessive weight for a distance runner may have been compensated for by his apparent power and speed, which is partly attributed to his high mesomorphy.