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The VO_2max test is the criterion measure of aerobic power in athletes. Actual and accurate published scores are difficult to find. The following are just some that are known or have been found through searching online. When comparing to these results, you must consider that the protocols used are probably different, and the accuracy of the results unknown. There is also a list of VO_2max World Bests on the sporting records section.

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General

• The article on VO_2max on Wikipedia states that the average young untrained male will have a VO_2max of about 3.5 liters/minute or 45 ml/min/kg.

Ice Hockey (NHL)

• At the 2015 NHL Combine, the best score on the VO_2max test was 70 ml/kg/min by Matthew Spencer.
• The best score at the 2012 NHL scouting combine for the VO_2max cycling test was 65.7 ml/kg/min by Tomas Hertl of Slavia (CZREP). The average score from the combine was 55.9 ml/kg/min (see the top 2012 NHL combine results)
• The best VO_2max score at the 2011 NHL scouting combine was 68.7 ml/min/kg by defenseman Sven Baertschi of the Portland Winterhawks (WHL) (see 2011 NHL combine results)
• The average cycle VO_2max recorded at the NHL entry draft scouting combine over the last few years has been 56.8 (2009), 56.3 (2010) and 56.4 ml/min/kg (2011). (see NHL combine results summary)
• Flames coach Mike Keenan taking about why Chris Chelios is still playing at age 46. He says that there are three athletes that have broken the 70-plus barrier in VO_2max fitness testing. One was Chelly, another one was Eddie Belfour (both from Chicago), and this year Jarome Iginla did it. (retrieved Oct 2007, mlive.com)

Aussie Rules Football (AFL)

• Brett Deledio, AFL footballer from Richmond, scored 60 ml/kg/min on his VO_2max test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).

Athletics

• Sean Wroe, Australian Olympic 400m sprinter, scored 58 ml/kg/min on his VO_2max test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).

Cross-Country Skiing

• The Norwegians have long been tops in this sport, and their athletes have recorded some of the highest ever VO_2max scores. An article on www.fasterskier.com from 2005 listed a few of these: Espen Harald Bjerke tested at 96 ml/kg/min. Bjorn Daehlie had also achieved that score in the past. In recent testing (2005) the scores achieved were Hofstad – 92, Bjerke – 91, Gaustad – 87, Aukland – 88 and Svartedal – 83. (article on www.fasterskier.com, 10 Oct 2005)

Jockey / Horse Racing

• Michael Rodd, Melbourne Cup winning jockey, scored 58 ml/kg/min on his VO_2max test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).

Triathlon

• Erin Densham, Olympic Triathlete, scored 67 ml/kg/min on her VO_2max test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).

Rowing

• Drew Ginn, Australian Olympic rower, scored 67 ml/kg/min on his VO_2max test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).
• The best score from Olaf Tufte (World and Olympic Champion in rowing) was 77 ml/kg/min (as listed in an article on www.fasterskier.com, 10 Oct 2005)

Soccer

• VO_2max tests were performed on a sample of Singapore's elite S-League players, the average VO_2max score was between 55 and 60 ml/kg/min. The same article stated that these results were similar to average published results of footballers in Norway's professional league (average 58), and the 2000 Australian Olympic football team (average 59.7) (from TodayOnline, June 6, 2012)
• The best score from Øyvind Leonhardsen (Norwegian professional soccer player) was 80.9 ml/kg/min (as listed in an article on www.fasterskier.com, 10 Oct 2005).

Cycling

• Chris Froome, two time Tour de France winner, achieved a VO_2max 84.6 in a test in August 2015. His weight on the testing day was 69.9kg. He was also tested in 2007 with a maximum oxygen uptake of 80.2 ml/kg/min, at a weight of 75.6 kg (167 lb).
• WorldTour professional cyclists will be expected to have a VO_2max of around 75-90ml/min/kg (quote of Stephen Gallagher in article from http://roadcyclinguk.com/)
• Peta Mullens, Australian cyclist, scored 59 ml/kg/min on her VO_2max test (Herald Sun Newspaper, 16 April 2009).
• The best score from Norwegian professional road bicycle racer Thor Hushovd was 86 ml/kg/min (as listed in an article on www.fasterskier.com, 10 Oct 2005).

Other Sports

• The best score from biathlete Ole Einar Bjœrndalen was 86 ml/kg/min (as listed in an article on www.fasterskier.com, 10 Oct 2005).

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Related Pages

• Procedure for VO_2max Testing
• Other fitness test results
• World Records for VO_2max
• More Scores? I scan the internet for the latest athlete results. If you know of something I have missed, I would love to hear from you.

Old Comments

• In my view the score tells almost nothing. I was tested a couple of times when I was in the army (infantry) and I scored 40-43 which was equal to about the 40-50th percentile in the company. However I was during the best runner 20km and top 3 for 3 km cross-country running. And in skiing I was in top 10. Now at 60 I quite recently scored 30 in the VO₂ test. But actually I am very fit. 100 burpees in less than ten minutes and in Coopers test I scored very good, although I very seldom run nowadays. How come? (from Mats, Feb 2013)