Key takeaways
The best endurance athletes reach roughly double the 25 to 45 ml/kg/min of most untrained adults
Cross-country skiers have the highest values, with elite men at 80 to 90+ ml/kg/min
Bjørn Dæhlie was reported at about 96 and Oskar Svendsen at 97.5 ml/kg/min, though these are not verified records
Most untrained adults sit between 25 and 45 ml/kg/min. The best endurance athletes in the world reach roughly double.
Which sports have the highest values?
In a classic study, Saltin and Åstrand (1967) tested Swedish national team athletes across many sports. Cross-country skiers had the highest values, followed by distance runners, orienteers and cyclists — sports that use a lot of muscle mass for a long time. That ranking still holds.
| Sport | Typical elite range (men) | Typical elite range (women) |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-country skiing | 80–90+ | 65–80 |
| Distance running | 70–85 | 60–75 |
| Road cycling | 70–85 | 60–75 |
| Rowing (absolute values very high) | 60–70 | 55–65 |
| Team sports (football, hockey) | 55–65 | 45–55 |
Rowers show why the unit matters: they are tall and heavy, so their absolute VO2max (litres per minute) is among the highest of all athletes even though their per-kilo value is lower (VO2max and body weight).
Famous reported values
- Norwegian cross-country skier Bjørn Dæhlie has been widely reported at around 96 ml/kg/min.
- Norwegian cyclist Oskar Svendsen was reported at 97.5 ml/kg/min as a junior.
Treat these as reported figures from individual tests rather than verified records; equipment and protocols differ.
The biggest engine doesn't always win
Among elite marathon runners, VO2max values overlap a lot. What separates them is:
- the fraction of VO2max they can hold for hours (threshold), and
- running economy — how little oxygen they need at race pace.
That's why strength training and threshold work matter so much at the top. See what limits VO2max.
What it means for you
Genes play a big role at the elite level (trainability), but for health the target is far lower: moving out of the bottom fitness group brings the largest benefit (VO2max and longevity). Compare yourself with your peers on the VO2max chart.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest VO2max ever recorded?
Cyclist Oskar Svendsen was reported at 97.5 ml/kg/min as a junior and skier Bjørn Dæhlie at around 96. Treat these as reported figures from individual tests rather than verified records.
What is the VO2max of an elite runner?
Elite male distance runners typically sit around 70 to 85 ml/kg/min and elite women around 60 to 75. Among elite marathoners, threshold and running economy separate them more than VO2max.
Which sport has the highest VO2max?
Cross-country skiing, followed by distance running, orienteering and cycling, sports that use a lot of muscle mass for a long time.
Sources
- Saltin B, Åstrand PO. Maximal oxygen uptake in athletes. J Appl Physiol, 1967.
- Bassett DR, Howley ET. Limiting factors for maximum oxygen uptake and determinants of endurance performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 2000.