Abstract Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relative age effect and the age of peak performance of women's football players who participated in the Olympic Games from 1996 to 2016. Methods: Birth dates, playing positions, and nationality of all players registered in women's football competition in the Olympic Games (1996 to 2016) were collected. All data used in this study were obtained from the official website of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (www.fifa.com). The sample size of the study comprised 1,203 players. Results: We found an average age of 25.1 ± 4.0 years old and a significant increase of 1.4 years in the average age from 1996 (25.0 ± 3.9 years old) to 2016 (26.4 ± 3.7 years old) (p < 0.001). The comparison of the players’ age between playing positions reveals that the goalkeepers are the oldest players (26.2 ± 4.4 years) and the forwards are the youngest players (24.4 ± 3.8 years) (p < 0.001). The RAE for women's football players showed neither effect over the years nor in different playing positions. Conclusion: We found an aging trend in women's football in the past two decades and different ages of peak performance among the playing positions. The current findings provide valuable information to coaches and professionals to program long-term training and to promote athletes’ progression towards their performance targets.

O uso de carboidrato (CHO) como suplemento nutricional está relacionado com melhor rendimento esportivo. Alguns estudos observaram relação entre consumo e ativação cerebral que influenciam o rendimento. Assim, o objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a influência do consumo de CHO na ativação de determinadas áreas cerebrais durante exercício físico, realizado juntamente à aquisição de ressonância magnética funcional (RMf). Dez homens ciclistas (32,1 ± 4,1 anos, peso 76,8 ± 14,6 kg) realizaram um protocolo de exercício de pedalada, com alta intensidade (Escala de Borg), em cicloergômetro acoplado à ressonância magnética (RM) e, ingeriram 50g de CHO ou de placebo no intervalo de duas séries de exercício. A ingestão de CHO apresentou influência nas áreas cerebrais durante o exercício, ativando áreas relacionadas à tomada de decisões (insula) e motivação (sistema límbico) e desativando principalmente áreas motoras (lobo frontal) e de introspecção (precuneos). Com o consumo de placebo, também houve ativação de áreas importantes relacionadas à motivação do individuo (cíngulo posterior). Além disso, as áreas relacionadas com a iniciação e manutenção de movimento, localizadas no lobo frontal e cerebelo, apresentaram-se ativas. Com o CHO, áreas importantes para a manutenção do exercício foram ativadas (BOLD positivo), mostrando que a suplementação pode ter influência na ativação cerebral durante o exercício de forma que melhore o rendimento esportivo.

The use of carbohydrate (CH) as a nutritional supplement is related to better sports performance. Some studies have noted a relationship between consumption and brain activation influencing the performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of CH consumption in the activation of certain brain areas during exercise, performed simultaneously the acquisition of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Ten men cyclists (32.1 ± 4.1 years, weight 76.8 ± 14.6 kg) performed a pedaling exercise protocol, with high intensity (Borg Scale), on a cycleergometer coupled to magnetic resonance (MR) and ingested 50g CH or placebo in the range of two sets of exercise. The CH ingestion showed influence on brain areas during exercise, activating areas related to decision-making (insula) and motivation (limbic system) and mainly disabling motor areas (frontal lobe) and introspection (precuneus). With the use of placebo, there was also activation of important areas in the motivation of the individual (posterior cingulate). In addition, areas associated with the initiation and maintenance of movement, located on the front lobe and cerebellum, was active. With the use of CH, areas important for maintenance of the exercise have been activated showing that supplementation can influence the brain activation during exercise to improve the sport performance.