THE INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON SPORTS PERFORMANCE: A CASE STUDY OF OUTDOOR ATHLETES

Abstract

The performance in sports is not only determined by physiology, nutrition, and psychology but also environmental factors, which are under-researched in the practical context. Unlike indoor sports, outdoor athletes are especially susceptible to temperature, humidity, altitude, air quality and wind, but little research has been done on how these environmental factors interact to affect performance. The purpose of the study was to understand the impact of the environment on outdoor athletes and to determine discipline-specific weaknesses and adaptations. A cross-sectional observational study was used to study 120 competitive amateur athletes 40 runners, 40 cyclists, and 40 swimmers over a twelve-month period during training and competitions. Environmental measures were obtained simultaneously with sport-specific performance measures, and tests were performed by multiple regression and ANOVA. The findings indicated that heat and humidity were the greatest factors that impacted runners, wind and temperature affected cyclists, and wind-related turbulence and warm water were the worst factors that affected swimmers, whereas poor air quality negatively affected endurance capacity across the sports. Athletes also reported feeling more fatigued and exerted during high-stress situations, which confirms quantitative data. The study demonstrates the importance of specific adaptation interventions and climate-sensitive event planning, providing relevant advice to athletes, coaches, and policymakers. The study concludes that environmental awareness should be incorporated in sports science to maximize performance and protect the health of athletes as climatic conditions become more and more variable.