Every four years, the authors conducted research on athletes representing Japan in the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 with a view to determining their state of health and physical fitness. This research has been called the Memorial Studies of the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964, and this report uses the data obtained during the investigation to examine the changes in the physical fitness of top-athletes after retiring from athletic life. The items inspected by the authors as the indicators of physical fitness were weight, skinfolds, back strength, vertical jumping, VO₂max and the cardiac surface. The results of the inspection revealed a rapid deterioration in the items related to aerobic power- VO₂max and the cardiac surface- compared to the other factors related to physical fitness.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.2/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE