Hydration status of lifesaving atheltes during international competition

This study investigated the hydration status of lifesaving athletes in situ during an international competition. Participants were 10 lifesaving athletes (6 male and 4 female) competing in pool- and ocean-based competition across three consecutive days. Assessment included upon-waking urine samples and body mass across 7 days including travel, training and competition days. Urine specific gravity was significantly lower while traveling compared with predeparture (p < .05). There were no gender differences for sweat rates, body mass changes, fluids consumed, or percentage dehydration during the training sessions (p > .05). Sweat rates were higher than previously reported and there were no significant differences identified for daily body mass changes (p >.05). The results of the current study found that lifesaving athletes were capable of maintaining favorable hydration status throughout the course of an international lifesaving event held in hot and humid conditions