Why do Athletes have more Lung Capacity than People who don't Play Sports?

Why do athletes have more lung capacity than people who don't play sports? This is a common question. If you’ve ever watched a sporting event such as an endurance marathon or a triathlon, you’ve probably wondered how it’s possible for some people to compete at the level these athletes do in such events. Especially in swimming, you may wonder how these athletes maintain the needed strength, not to mention breath, in order to finish the event.

The expanded lung capacity that athletes have allows them to regulate their breathing in a way that lets their heart pump blood more efficiently, making it possible for runners to accomplish marathon runs, or for swimmers to break world records. 

Why do Athletes have more Lung Capacity than People who don't Play Sports?

The reason that athletes have more lung capacity than people who don't play sports is because they work at develoing this lung capacity and endurance.

Athletes obtain a greater lung capacity through a strenuous and consistent workout program. As athletes work out and engage in sports- sometimes for hours at a time - they begin to moderate their breathing, generally automatically or subconsciously although sometimes through a targeted effort to learn breath control.

Eventually, athletes develop the proper timing, depth, and speed at which to breathe throughout the duration of the exercises they perform.

This, in effect, is the same reason they also often have more muscle content on their bodies than most non-athletes: they use their lungs more. Through exercise and training, athletes develop endurance capabilities for their lungs that allow them to perform at heightened levels, which would typically leave a non-athlete on the sidelines, gasping for breath.