V̇O2 max varies greatly between individuals and even between elite athletes that compete in the same sport. The table below shows typical maximal oxygen uptake for elite players for several sports:
| Range | |
|---|---|
| Basketball | 40-60 |
| Football | 42-60 |
| Gymnastics | 52-58 |
| Ice Hockey | 52-62 |
| Jockey | 50-60 |
| Racquetball | 55-62 |
| Rowing | 60-70 |
| Rugby | 50-60 |
| Alpine Skiing | 57-68 |
| Soccer | 54-64 |
| Tennis | 50-60 |
| Triathlon | 60-70 |
| Volleyball | 45-55 |
The highest ever recorded V̇O2 max is 94 ml/kg/min in men and 77 ml/kg/min in women. Both were cross-country skiers.
Untrained girls and women typically have a maximal oxygen uptake 20-25% lower than untrained men. However, when comparing elite athletes, the gap tends to close to about 10%.
You can find more information and data on these subjects in the following web site:
The next section presents a general discussion on training concepts.