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In which sports can women compete equally with men?

Are there sports leagues that allow men and women to compete on equal terms? The answer is yes, especially in cycling.

Báo Tuổi TrẻBáo Tuổi Trẻ18/03/2025

Nam nữ có thể cạnh tranh sòng phẳng ở môn thể thao nào? - Ảnh 1.

Athlete Fiona Kolbinger is famous for her ability to compete with men - Photo: ROULEUR

Leaving aside mixed doubles in racquet sports, there are very few sports where men and women compete on equal terms. Given the same age, health, and physical condition, men usually dominate in every aspect.

Bicycles are the exception.

But cycling is a rare exception in the world of grassroots sports. Especially in long-distance cycling.

In long-distance cycling, although men often have the advantage in muscle strength and acceleration, women have proven to be equally competitive, even superior in some cases.

From a scientific perspective, the following factors can be analyzed to explain this phenomenon:

1. Endurance and pain tolerance

Women typically have a higher pain threshold and better endurance during prolonged activities. This helps them maintain consistent performance over long distances.

Some studies show that estrogen in women helps fight muscle fatigue, increasing endurance during prolonged activities.

With the same level of pain, women's bodies need to secrete more endogenous morphine than men's.

2. Energy metabolism

Women tend to use fat as their primary source of energy during prolonged activity, while men rely primarily on glycogen. Using fat helps women sustain energy for longer without needing to replenish as much.

3. Psychology and tactics

Women tend to plan carefully and maintain a steady pace, avoiding periods of sudden acceleration. This strategy helps them conserve energy and reduce the risk of exhaustion.

4. Body structure

Women tend to have a higher body fat percentage, which provides energy reserves for long races. At the same time, they may be less affected by dehydration and increased body temperature.

5. Muscle recovery

Some studies show that women are able to recover muscles faster after prolonged activity, helping them maintain performance throughout the race.

Fiona Kolbinger's Story

In 2019, Fiona Kolbinger, a German medical student, won the Transcontinental Cycling Tour, a cross-continental race open to all, beating many male riders.

After her historic victory at the 2019 Transcontinental Race, Fiona Kolbinger continued to compete in ultra-endurance cycling and achieved remarkable results.

In 2022, Fiona competed in the 8th edition of the Transcontinental Race, starting in Grammont, Belgium and finishing in Burgas, Bulgaria. She completed the race in 10 days, 13 hours and 44 minutes, placing 7th overall and the highest female finisher.

In September 2024, Fiona participated in the 4th Trans Pyrenees Race, an ultra-endurance cycling race that starts and finishes in Girona, Spain. She finished 7th overall in the race.

Nữ có thể cạnh tranh sòng phẳng với nam ở môn thể thao nào? - Ảnh 3.

Cycling is a sport where women can compete with men - Photo: TTO

Research and medical career

In 2021, Fiona co-authored a medical study on the physical consequences of ultra-endurance cycling , which looked at more than 1,200 long-distance athletes and found that the majority of them suffered kidney problems after their races, linked to excessive water intake and painkiller use.

In 2024, she moved to the United States and led a research group at the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Fiona Kolbinger continues to balance her medical career with her passion for ultra-endurance cycling, becoming an inspiration to many in both fields.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nu-co-the-canh-tranh-song-phang-voi-nam-o-mon-the-thao-nao-20250313151848963.htm


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