Sports performance is all about strength, speed, power and endurance. These attributes of the athlete are gained
through heredity and appropriate training and can also be influenced by diet.
Ultimately it is the processes taking place at the molecular and cellular level that underpin exercise performance
and the adaptations that occur with training. Thus, students of sport and exercise science need some understanding
of biochemistry. To provide a clear understanding of issues surrounding biochemistry in sport, the text describes
the biochemical processes involved in energy provision for different sports events and the way in which limitations
in the energy supply can cause fatigue and thus limit performance.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction : the biochemical basis of exercise and sport
2. The weightlifter
3. The sprinter
4. Middle distance events
5. The endurance athlete
6. The games player
7. Sporting talent : the genetic basis of athletic capability
8. Adaptations to training
