Profile of aerobic capacity (VO₂ max) of student athletes: a comparative study based on gender and sports group
Keywords:
Aerobic Capacity, Gender, Sport Group, Student Athletes, VO₂ Max
Abstract
Problems: Aerobic capacity (VO₂ Max) is a fundamental component of physical condition that supports athletic performance in various sports. Grouping sports based on their physiological characteristics, such as martial arts, games, and measurable sports, can help in analyzing athlete fitness profiles. Furthermore, established physiological differences between genders are known to significantly influence aerobic capacity. Purpose: This study aims to map the profile and analyze differences in aerobic capacity among student athletes based on gender and sports classification. Methods: This study used a descriptive-comparative design with 57 student-athletes (37 men, 20 women, aged 20.98 ± 0.6 years) from 18 sports at the Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, selected using convenience sampling. Aerobic capacity data (VO₂ Max) were collected through the standard Multistage Fitness Test (MFT) instrument. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, Independent Samples T-test, and One-Way ANOVA. Results: This study showed that male athletes had a significantly higher mean VO₂ Max (42.02 ± 5.14 ml/kg/min) than female athletes (30.91 ± 4.67 ml/kg/min). Further analysis of the male group found no significant differences in VO₂ Max between the Martial Arts (43.33 ± 4.09 ml/kg/min), Games (41.6 ± 4.87 ml/kg/min), and Measured (43.9 ± 3.12 ml/kg/min) groups. Similarly, in the female group, no significant differences were found between Martial Arts (31.5 ± 6.80 ml/kg/min), Games (30.0 ± 3.01 ml/kg/min), and Measured (37.7 ± 1.27 ml/kg/min). Conclusion: Gender is the most dominant differentiating factor for the aerobic capacity of student athletes in this study, while grouping based on sports clusters did not show significant differences. These findings indicate that the variation in athletic levels within each sport group is greater than the differences between sport groups themselves. Further research is recommended to conduct similar analyses by controlling for equivalent athletic levels to obtain a more specific picture of the physiological demands between sports.
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References
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Purnamasari, I., Novian, G., & Fiametta, M. (2024). Journal Sport Area Endurance training for judo athletes : Improving anaerobic and aerobic capacity in the high altitude. Journal Sport Area, 9(2), 295–306.
Ramadani, A. A., Purnamasari, I., & Novian, G. (2025). Analisis Kondisi Fisik Atlet Taekwondo Jawa Barat Berdasarkan Kategori Pada Pon Aceh - Sumut 2024. SPORTIVE: Journal of Physical Education, Sport and Recreation, 204–217.
Santisteban, K. J., Lovering, A. T., Halliwill, J. R., & Minson, C. T. (2022). Sex Differences in VO2max and the Impact on Endurance-Exercise Performance. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19094946
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Senanayake, S. P., Dabare, P., Silva, A. R. N., Pushpika, S., & Maddumage, R. (2024). Validation Study to Assess the Concurrent Validity of the Beep Test as a Proxy for Cardiopulmonary Endurance, Using VO2 Max as the Criterion Standard. European Journal of Sport Sciences, 3(1), 38–42. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejsport.2024.3.1.131
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Sun, F., Williams, C. A., Sun, Q., & Hu, F. (2024). Effect of eight-week high-intensity interval training versus moderate-intensity continuous training programme on body composition , cardiometabolic risk factors in sedentary adolescents. Frontiers in Physiology, 2024(August), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2024.1450341
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Zorn, S. P. (2017). Body Composition, Dietary Habits, and Rowing Performance of Male Collegiate Club Rowers. 167–186.
Amfo, J. (2024). Balancing Academics and Athletics: The Impact of Student-Led Sports Program Oversight on Student-Athletes at Ashesi University. Ashesi University.
Andreato, L. V., Javier, F., Lara, D., Andrade, A., Henrique, B., & Branco, M. (2017). Physical and Physiological Profiles of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Athletes : a Systematic Review. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-016-0069-5
Birrer, D., Röthlin, P., & Morgan, G. (2012). Mindfulness to enhance athletic performance: Theoretical considerations and possible impact mechanisms. Mindfulness, 3(3), 235–246.
de Barros Souza, F., Ferreira, R. C. A., Fernandes, W. S., Ribeiro, W., & Lazo-Osorio, R. A. (2018). Comparison of Aerobic Power and Capacity Between Athletes From Different Sports. / Comparación De Potencia Y Capacidad Aeróbica Entre Atletas De Alto Rendimiento De Diferentes Modalidades Deportivas. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Do Esporte, 24(6), 432–435.
Degens, Hans, Stasiulis, Arvydas, Skurvydas, Albertas, Statkeviciene, Birute, & Venckunas. (2019). Physiological Comparison between Non-Athletes , Endurance , Power and Team Athletes : School of Healthcare Science ; Manchester Metropolitan University , UK ; b : Institute of Sport Science and Innovations , Lithuanian Sports University , Lithuania ; c : 119, 1377–1386.
Degens, Hans, Stasius, Arvydas, Skurvydas, Albertas, Statkeviciene, Birute, Venckunas, & Tomas. (2019). Physiological Comparison between Non-Athletes , Endurance , Power and Team Athletes : School of Healthcare Science ; Manchester Metropolitan University , UK ; b : Institute of Sport Science and Innovations , Lithuanian Sports University , Lithuania ; c : 119, 1377–1386.
Deliceoğlu, G., Kabak, B., Çakır, V. O., Ceylan, H. İ., Raul-Ioan, M., Alexe, D. I., & Stefanica, V. (2024). Respiratory Muscle Strength as a Predictor of VO2max and Aerobic Endurance in Competitive Athletes. Applied Sciences (Switzerland), 14(19). https://doi.org/10.3390/app14198976
Duquette, A. M., & Adam, N. A. (2024). Determining cardiovascular fitness normative reference values in a university aged Canadian population using maximal exercise testing. Biomedical Human Kinetics, 16(1), 106–112. https://doi.org/10.2478/bhk-2024-0011
Gomez, J., Bradley, J., & Conway, P. (2018). The challenges of a high-performance student athlete. Irish Educational Studies, 37(3), 329–349.
Hopwood, H. J., Bellinger, P. M., Compton, H. R., Bourne, M. N., & Minahan, C. (2023). The Relevance of Muscle Fiber Type to Physical Characteristics and Performance in Team-Sport Athletes. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 18(3), 223–230. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2022-0235
Julio, U. F., & Franchini, E. (2021a). Developing aerobic power and capacity for combat sports athletes. Revista de Artes Marciales Asiaticas, 16(1s), 10–59. https://doi.org/10.18002/rama.v16i1s.7000
Julio, U. F., & Franchini, E. (2021b). Developing Aerobic Power and Capacity for Combat Sports Athletes. 16. https://doi.org/10.18002/rama.v16i1s.7000
Kim, J. W., & Nam, S. S. (2021). Physical Characteristics And Physical Fitness Profiles Of Korean Taekwondo Athletes: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 18. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18189624
Koons, N. J., Suresh, M. R., Schlotman, T. E., & Convertino, V. A. (2019). Interrelationship between sex, age, blood volume, and V˙ o 2max. Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, 90(4), 362–368. https://doi.org/10.3357/AMHP.5255.2019
Li, Q. (2023). Physiological Characteristics of Taekwondo Athletes. Journal of Research in Social Science and Humanities, 2(4), 87–90. https://doi.org/10.56397/jrssh.2023.04.10
Mooney, M., Worn, R., Spencer, M., & Brien, B. J. O. (2024). Anaerobic and Aerobic Metabolic Capacities Contributing to Australian Rules Footballers. Sports.
Muñoz-Vásquez, C., Hernandez-Martinez, J., Ramos-Espinoza, F., Herrera-Valenzuela, T., Magnani Branco, B. H., Guzman-Muñoz, E., Floriano Landim, S., Mondaca-Urrutia, J., & Valdés-Badilla, P. (2023). Effects of Olympic Combat Sports on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Non-Athlete Population: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(23). https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12237223
Öztürk, B., Engİn, H., Kurt, Y., & Comparison, M. (2023a). Journal of Education and Recreation Patterns ( JERP ) Comparison of Maximal Sprint Speed , Maximal Aerobic Speed , Anaerobic Speed Reserve and Vo2max Results According to the Positions of Amateur Football Players : Experimental Study To cite this article : Journal of Education and Recreation Patterns ( JERP ) Volume 4 , Issue 2 , Year 2023 ISSN : 2757-9344 Comparison of Maximal Sprint Speed , Maximal Aerobic Speed , Anaerobic Speed Reserve and Vo2max Results According to the Positions of Amateur Football Players : Experimental Study.
Öztürk, B., Engİn, H., Kurt, Y., & Comparison, M. (2023b). Journal of Education and Recreation Patterns ( JERP ) Comparison of Maximal Sprint Speed , Maximal Aerobic Speed , Anaerobic Speed Reserve and Vo2max Results According to the Positions of Amateur Football Players : Experimental Study To cite this article .
Peng, C., Hu, M., Yang, L., & Yuan, Z. (2025). Effects of high-intensity interval training ( HIIT ) versus moderate-intensity continuous training ( MICT ) on cardiopulmonary function , body composition , and physical function in cancer survivors : a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in Physiology, June, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2025.1594574
Purnamasari, I., Ariati, C., Mulyana, B., & Novian, G. (2021). Decreasing Body Mass Index: Continuous Run Training of Judo Athletes in Bogor. Jurnal Sains Keolahragaan Dan Kesehatan, 6(1), 61–69.
Purnamasari, I., Novian, G., & Fiametta, M. (2024). Journal Sport Area Endurance training for judo athletes : Improving anaerobic and aerobic capacity in the high altitude. Journal Sport Area, 9(2), 295–306.
Ramadani, A. A., Purnamasari, I., & Novian, G. (2025). Analisis Kondisi Fisik Atlet Taekwondo Jawa Barat Berdasarkan Kategori Pada Pon Aceh - Sumut 2024. SPORTIVE: Journal of Physical Education, Sport and Recreation, 204–217.
Santisteban, K. J., Lovering, A. T., Halliwill, J. R., & Minson, C. T. (2022). Sex Differences in VO2max and the Impact on Endurance-Exercise Performance. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19094946
Schultz, M. G., la Gerche, A., & Sharman, J. E. (2022). Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Workload, and the Blood Pressure Response to Exercise Testing. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 50(1), 25–30. https://doi.org/10.1249/JES.0000000000000276
Senanayake, S. P., Dabare, P., Silva, A. R. N., Pushpika, S., & Maddumage, R. (2024). Validation Study to Assess the Concurrent Validity of the Beep Test as a Proxy for Cardiopulmonary Endurance, Using VO2 Max as the Criterion Standard. European Journal of Sport Sciences, 3(1), 38–42. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejsport.2024.3.1.131
Sihite, P., Berliana, B., Nugraha, E., & Novian, G. (2023). Relationship between An-Aerobic Threshold , Lactic Acid , and VO2 Max . during the General Preparation Period with the Long Distance Running Performance of Sea Games Athletes. Journal of Architectural Research and Education, 5(2), 205–212.
Stanković, M., Gušić, M., Nikolić, S., Barišić, V., Krakan, I., Sporiš, G., Mikulić, I., & Trajković, N. (2021). 30–15 intermittent fitness test: A systematic review of studies, examining the VO2 max estimation and training programming. Applied Sciences (Switzerland), 11(24). https://doi.org/10.3390/app112411792
Sun, F., Williams, C. A., Sun, Q., & Hu, F. (2024). Effect of eight-week high-intensity interval training versus moderate-intensity continuous training programme on body composition , cardiometabolic risk factors in sedentary adolescents. Frontiers in Physiology, 2024(August), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2024.1450341
Tomkinson, G. R., Lang, J. J., Blanchard, J., Léger, L. A., & Tremblay, M. S. (2019). The 20-m shuttle run: Assessment and interpretation of data in relation to youth aerobic fitness and health. Pediatric Exercise Science, 31(2), 152–163. https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2018-0179
Zorn, S. P. (2017). Body Composition, Dietary Habits, and Rowing Performance of Male Collegiate Club Rowers. 167–186.
Published
2025-09-30
How to Cite
Kautsar, H., Syahid, A., & Novian, G. (2025). Profile of aerobic capacity (VO₂ max) of student athletes: a comparative study based on gender and sports group. Jurnal Patriot, 7(3), 136-143. https://doi.org/10.24036/patriot.v7i3.1188
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