World-class sprinters typically do not breathe during the 9+ seconds needed to complete 100 meters. What does this suggest about their energy production?
A)It must be mitochondrial, with oxygen provided by one big breath at the beginning of the sprint.
B)It must be mitochondrial, with oxygen provided by circulating hemoglobin already saturated with oxygen.
C)It must be glycolytic; the process is entirely anaerobic and the race will be over before NADH+ reserves are depleted.
D)It must be fermentative, which explains why most sprinters experience cramping once the race ends.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sprinting for 9+ seconds without breathing suggests that the energy production relies entirely on glycolysis, which is the process of converting glucose into ATP without oxygen. Glycolysis can supply ATP rapidly, but it produces lactic acid as a byproduct, leading to muscle fatigue and cramping once the race is over. Additionally, if energy production relied on oxidative phosphorylation, which is the process that relies on oxygen to produce ATP, then sprinters would need to breathe to supply oxygen to their muscles.

World-Class Sprinters Typically Do Not Breathe During the 9+ Seconds