RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Physiological predictors of competitive performance in CrossFit® athletes JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 2019.12.16.877928 DO 10.1101/2019.12.16.877928 A1 Rafael Martínez-Gómez A1 Pedro L. Valenzuela A1 Lidia B. Alejo A1 Jaime Gil-Cabrera A1 Almudena Montalvo-Pérez A1 Eduardo Talavera A1 Alejandro Lucia A1 Susana Moral-González A1 David Barranco-Gil YR 2019 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2019/12/16/2019.12.16.877928.abstract AB The aim of this study was to determine which physiological variables could predict performance during a CrossFit competition. Fifteen male CrossFit athletes (35 ± 9 years) participated and performed a series of tests (incremental load test for full squat and bench press, jump tests, incremental running test, and Wingate test) that were used as potential predictors of CrossFit performance. Thereafter, they performed the five Workouts of the Day (WODs) corresponding to the CrossFit Games Open 2019, and the relationship between each variable and CrossFit performance was analyzed. Overall Crossfit performance (i.e., final ranking considering all WODs) was significantly related to jump ability, mean and peak power output during the Wingate test, relative maximum strength for the full squat and the bench press, and maximum oxygen uptake and maximum speed during an incremental running test (all p<0.05, r=0.58–0.75), although the relationship of most markers varied depending on the analyzed WOD. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the combination of maximum oxygen uptake, squat jump ability, and reactive strength index accounted for 81% of the variance in overall CrossFit performance (p=0.0003). CrossFit performance seems dependent on a variety of power-, strength-, and aerobic-related markers, which reflects the complexity of this sport. Improvements in aerobic capacity may help people and athletes in CrossFit performance and well-being. Also, focus on lower body power could be the key to obtain better performance markers.