82-year-old ultramarathoner has fitness levels similar to a 20-year-old.

Researchers tested 82-year-old Juan López García and found his VO2 max rivals that of a healthy man in his 20s; the study reports other measures—high oxygen extraction, fat-burning capacity, and race records—that help explain his endurance.

Juan López García, an 82-year-old ultramarathoner from Toledo, Spain, is the subject of a new scientific study. He began running at 66 after retiring from a career as a car mechanic and later set age-group records. Scientists put him through a battery of tests to identify physiological traits that support his performance. The study highlights several measurements that help explain his sustained endurance. Key findings: - His VO2 max was reported as the highest ever recorded in an octogenarian and is comparable to that of a healthy man in his 20s. - Tests showed his muscles extract and use a large percentage of the oxygen available in his blood, supporting long-duration running. - His maximal fat oxidation was measured at 0.55 grams per minute, similar to fit younger athletes, and he began burning fat at about 77% of VO2 max. - He holds the world record in the 80–84 age group for a 31-mile ultramarathon and won the 2024 world marathon championship for his age group in 3:39:10, a European record. - He typically trains about 40 miles per week with sprint intervals and nearly doubles that mileage when preparing for races; some measures such as lactate threshold and running economy were strong for his age but not exceptional. Summary: The authors report that the data from this octogenarian elite athlete underscore how endurance training begun later in life can help delay some physiological changes associated with aging and support preservation of VO2 max, a key predictor of all-cause mortality. Undetermined at this time.