Table 2. Illustrative findings from studies on the longevity of elite endurance athletes.

Author / type of sporting activity	Number of athletes	Control group	Athletes	Effect
Grimsmo (e71) Cross-country skiing	122	40% dead	31% dead	9% lower mortality at the time of the study
Karvonen (e72) Cross-country skiing	396	Finnish general population, no data about age	73 years mean life span	95% CI: life prolonged by 2.8 to 4.3 years
Sarna (25) Cross-country skiing,long-distance running	303 (2613 athletes total)	age attained: 69.9 years 95% CI: 69.0–70.9 (1712 persons)	age attained: 75.6 years 95% CI: 73.6–77.5 (303 persons)	life prolonged by a mean of 5.7 years
Sanchis-Gomar (24) Bicycle racing (Tour de France)	834	50% dead by the age of 73.5 years	50% dead by the age of 81.5 years	17% prolongation of mean life span

CI: confidence interval