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Home > PDHPE > Core 2 - Factors Affecting Performance > How can nutrition affect performance? > How can nutrition affect performance?

Different sports have different energy requirements. Hence, the nutritional requirements of the athletes vary depending on the sport or activity in which they are competing. Some require higher levels of carbohydrates while others need extra protein.

Student activity

Consider the nutritional requirements of athletes for each of the events listed in the table below. For each group of events, identify the components of fitness used, the nutrients needed and examples of foods which supply these nutrients. Record your responses in the table provided. Analyse the information and describe the differences in nutritional requirements for different types of events. For example, the difference between the nutritional requirements of sprinters, middle distance runners, long distance runners and throwing events. Check your answers using the following information. Explore the nutritional needs of males and female athletes for events such as basketball, gymnastics, marathon running and rowing. Design a pre-event and post-event meal for a 1500 metre swimmer.

Athletic events	Components of fitness used	Nutrients needs	Examples of foods which supply these nutrients
Sprints hurdles jumps vaults
800m 1500m steeple-chase and combined events
Throws
5000m 10000m marathon and walks

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