Background: In recent years, comprehensive analyses using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) have been conducted to identify genetic factors related to athletic performance. In this study, we investigated the association between genetic variants and elite wrestling status across multiple ethnic groups using a genome-wide genotyping approach. Methods: This study included 168 elite wrestlers (64 Japanese, 67 Turkish, and 36 Russian), all of whom had competed in international tournaments, including the Olympic Games. Control groups consisted of 306 Japanese, 137 Turkish, and 173 Russian individuals without elite athletic backgrounds. We performed a GWAS comparing allele frequencies of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between elite wrestlers and controls in each ethnic cohort. Cross-population analysis comprised (1) identifying SNPs with nominal significance (p < 0.05) in all three groups, then (2) meta-analyzing overlapped SNPs to assess effect consistency and combined significance. Finally, we investigated whether the most significant SNPs were associated with gene expression in skeletal muscle in 23 physically active men. Results: The GWAS identified 328,388 (Japanese), 23,932 (Turkish), and 30,385 (Russian) SNPs reaching nominal significance. Meta-analysis revealed that the ATP2A3 rs6502758 and UNC5C rs265061 polymorphisms were associated (p < 0.0001) with elite wrestling status across all three populations. Both variants are located in intronic regions and influence the expression of their respective genes in skeletal muscle. Conclusions: This is the first study to investigate gene polymorphisms associated with elite wrestling status in a multi-ethnic cohort. ATP2A3 rs6502758 and UNC5C rs265061 polymorphisms may represent important genetic factors associated with achieving an elite status in wrestling, irrespective of ethnicity.

Background and Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected multiple physiological systems, including respiratory function, which is critical for athletic performance. Although alterations in pulmonary dynamics have been observed in high-level athletes recovering from COVID-19, the effects on respiratory function remain unclear. In this context, the present study aimed to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the interrelationships among respiratory function parameters in high-level athletes. Materials and Methods: Sixty-eight high-level athletes participated in the present study, including 34 with a history of COVID-19 and 34 controls without prior infection. Respiratory function and respiratory muscle strength were assessed using a digital spirometer (Pony FX, Cosmed, Italy). Key variables included Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV), Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1), and Maximum Inspiratory/Expiratory Pressure (MIP/MEP). Results: High-level athletes with prior COVID-19 infection exhibited significant differences in the correlations (p < 0.05) between FVC and PEF, FVC and MVV, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC, and MIP and MVV compared to controls. Conclusions: These findings suggest that COVID-19 can disrupt the interrelationships among respiratory function parameters in high-level athletes, highlighting the need for further longitudinal investigations.