No. 10, pp. 8–10

Received: 07.07.2026 | Published: 04.10.2026

CC BY 4.0

Abstract

Objective of the study is to reveal the features of the dynamics of the indicators of the functional preparedness of highly qualified female athletes specialising in modern pentathlon at various stages of the annual macrocycle. Methods and structure of the study. Five highly qualified female athletes (International Masters of Sports) specialising in modern pentathlon took part in the scientific work. The assessment of functional preparedness was performed at four control points of the annual cycle of preparation (the special-preparatory stage of the preparatory period and the competitive stage of each macrocycle). A test with a step-increasing load ‘to failure’ was used, modelling the final competitive exercise of modern pentathlon (the combined relay 5×600 m). The registration of the parameters of gas exchange and external respiration was carried out with the help of the portable ergospirometer ‘Cortex MetaMax 3B’. The level of capillary blood lactate was recorded after each segment by the portable analyser Lactate Scout. Results and conclusions. It was established that the heart rate at the level of the anaerobic threshold (AnT) increased towards the first competitive period, after which it reliably decreased towards the final stage of the annual cycle. At the same time, the indicators of relative oxygen consumption at the level of the AnT and of relative maximum oxygen consumption consistently increased over the course of the annual cycle, reaching the greatest values towards the stage of the main competitions. The indicator of maximum heart rate demonstrated a wave-like dynamics with high values in the competitive periods, while the maximum level of lactate increased right up to the special-preparatory stage of the second macrocycle with a subsequent insignificant decrease. Thus, the stage-wise dynamics of the functional state of qualified female pentathletes is characterised by a heterochronic adaptation: the systematic growth of aerobic power and capacity is combined with the economisation of the work of the heart (a decrease in heart rate at the level of the AnT) towards the stage of the main competitions. The effectiveness of the formation of such an adaptation profile is confirmed by the successful performances of the female athletes at the largest international competitions of the 2024-2025 season.

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