SUMMARY
Background: Running performance is widely understood interms of the Joyner model (VO2max, %VO2max at ventilatorythreshold (VT), running economy (often measured as cost ofrunning (CR) as VO2 in ml.kg-1.km-1).Objective: To test the Joyner model by evaluating a runner inwhom one element of the Joyner model is systematically abnormal.Methods: The case of a two-time Paralympian with cerebral palsy(CP), 2nd place in the Sydney 2000 Paralympic 1500 m (T37) isreported. Incremental and steady state treadmill runs as well assimulated competitions were completed. Incremental and steadystate (50% PPO) cycling with two legs (2L), the non-affected leg(NL), and the affected leg (AL) were also completed.Results: His silver medal (2000 Sydney OG) performance for1500 m was 269 s (4:29) (77.2% of velocity in contemporary ablebodiedworld record (WR). At the time of study, his VO2maxwas 64.2 ml.min-1.kg-1. His cost of running (CR) (1% grade) washigher, at 257 vs 228, 211 and 188 ml.kg-1.km-1 (for ACSM norms,elite Europeans, elite East Africans). During cycling, his VO2maxwith 2L, NL and AL was 3.74, 3.78 and 3.71 l.min-1, and his grossefficiency (GE) was 18.4, 12.2 and 9.3%, respectively.Conclusions: In a former elite runner with CP, there is littleevidence of a central oxygen transport limitation. The higherCR (plausibly reflected by the reduced GE of his AL) appears toaccount for much of the difference in performance compared toable-bodied runners. The results provide both insight into thephysiological limitations of runners with CP and support for theJoyner model of competitive running performance.Keywords: biomechanics, athletic training, exercise performance,exercise physiology