Abstract

Four racers were swimming the distance of 20 kilometers and ten racers the distance of 10 kilometers in water of 18 deg C for the period of 3 up to 7 hours. The average age of the swimmers was 26 +/- 10 years. They were all examined one day before the race, immediately after the race, and the following day in the afternoon. The rectal temperature decreased to 35,0 deg C +/- 1.3 deg C. The level of the growth hormone significantly increased from 2.0 to 25.5 ng/l and glycemia decreased from 4.0 to 2.6 mmol/l. The level of triacylglycerols was not significantly decreased. On the second day following the race there was a significantly increase of HDL cholesterol from 1.5 to 1.8 mmol, and triacylglycerols decreased from 1.8 to 1.0 mmol/l. Verf.-Referat