Insights from the first IOC Olympian Health Cohort: injury and illness in Olympians preparing for the Tokyo 2020 Summer and Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To describe the prevalence and nature of Olympic-career related injuries and illnesses, and behaviours during injury/illness, in Olympians in the 4 years prior to their participation at the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Olympic Games.

Methods

315 current Olympians from 70 countries completed a cross-sectional online survey, distributed by direct email through National Olympian Associations and World Olympians Association databases. Questions included Olympic sport exposure, significant training and competition injury and illness history (lasting >2 weeks) and athlete behaviours during injury/illness.

Results

65% of Olympians were women (35% men), representing 51 sports (37 summer, 14 winter), aged 28.6 years (4.6). Overall, 58.5% (95% CI 52.2% to 64.9%) of sum

SUBMITTER: Palmer D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12458888 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature