Norwegian triathlete Amalie Sæten was surprised by the results of a recent VO2 max test, discovering her maximum oxygen uptake was lower than she anticipated. The 28-year-ancient athlete revealed to Norwegian broadcaster NRK that her VO2 max measured 65, despite her expectations for a higher score.
VO2 max, or maximal oxygen uptake, is a common metric tracked by fitness watches and increasingly shared on social media by fitness enthusiasts. It represents the maximum amount of oxygen a body can utilize during intense exercise, often described as the size of one’s “engine” in terms of aerobic capacity.
Sæten, who hadn’t tested her VO2 max since age 17, said she wasn’t overly concerned by the number. “I think people can think that the number is directly linked to performance. It isn’t, You’ll see so many factors that play a role,” she explained to NRK. “The number, for example, is extremely dependent on weight, how small you are and whether you have a lot of muscle.” She noted that she knows many individuals with higher oxygen uptake who run at a slower pace.
The reluctance to disclose VO2 max scores extends to elite Norwegian cross-country skiers. Harald Østberg Amundsen told NRK he tests his VO2 max twice a year to monitor progress but declined to reveal his score, stating only that it is “well over 80.” His teammate, Nora Sanness, similarly refused to disclose her number, and NRK reported that several other Norwegian cross-country stars declined to share their VO2 max results.
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, a prominent cross-country skier, admitted he hasn’t measured his VO2 max in at least ten years, stating that his success isn’t tied to knowing the number. “You can go fast on skis without knowing that number too. All my World Cup victories I have taken without knowing my VO2 max,” Klæbo said. He views the threshold and his speed in ski races as more essential indicators of performance.
Professor Thomas Losnegard of the Norwegian University of Sport Sciences, speaking to NRK, explained that VO2 max is the largest amount of oxygen an individual can consume per minute, reflecting the capacity for aerobic work. He emphasized that while it’s a significant factor in performance, it isn’t the sole determinant. “If you are going to run a competition, there is a pretty good correlation between your maximum oxygen uptake and how well you perform in a competition,” Losnegard said. “At the same time, it is not necessarily the case that the one with the highest maximum oxygen uptake is the one who wins.”
Losnegard provided general benchmarks for VO2 max, noting that a well-trained male athlete might score over 80 ml per kilo per minute, while a trained male non-athlete might be around 60. For women, elite athletes typically score above 65-70 ml per kilo per minute, with trained non-athletes around 50-55. Untrained individuals generally fall below these levels.
He recommended VO2 max testing for competitive athletes, particularly when experiencing performance plateaus, to provide a baseline for comparison. However, he cautioned against relying too heavily on fitness tracker estimates, citing their inaccuracies. A laboratory test, costing between 1000-1500 Norwegian kroner, provides a more reliable measurement.
Sæten emphasized the importance of smart training, particularly for recreational athletes. “To dare to train with a slightly higher pulse, but to do it in a controlled way that does not build you tired all week given that you have trained hard, will be good. You have to be a little smart,” she said.
Losnegard added that genetics play a significant role in VO2 max, potentially accounting for up to 50 percent of the variation observed. He also noted that VO2 max naturally declines with age, linked to changes in body composition.
