What happens to the heart during and after the world’s toughest triathlon? Researchers from the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NIH) and the University of Oslo (UiO) are now monitoring participants in this year’s Norseman using ECG247. The Norseman Xtreme Triathlon requires athletes to swim 3.8 km in an ice-cold fjord, cycle 180 km across the Hardangervidda mountain plateau, and finish with a 42.2 km marathon run up to Mount Gausta (Gaustatoppen).

What do researchers expect to learn from this year’s ECG247 measurements?

By utilizing medically approved, continuous ECG technology in the field, the project is expected to provide answers to key questions in cardiology and sports physiology:

1. Establishing new reference values

Interpreting ECGs and blood samples from athletes who have undergone extreme physical strain is notoriously challenging. Data from ECG247 will help define what is «normally abnormal» for an athletic heart during and after maximum exertion. This will give physicians a better clinical foundation for distinguishing harmless, transient stress responses from actual, acute heart disease.

2. Detecting hidden cardiac arrhythmias

With traditional spot checks or short-term measurements, it is easy to miss transient heart rhythm irregularities. Continuous ECG monitoring over several days allows researchers to reveal whether temporary atrial fibrillation, extra heartbeats, pauses, or other arrhythmias occur—even if the athlete does not notice them.

3. Mapping the heart’s actual recovery time

How long does it really take for the heart to return to its biological baseline after extreme physical exertion? By tracking athletes with ECG247 in the days following the finish line, researchers will gain precise knowledge of resting heart rate and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) during the recovery phase.

4. Contributing to safer endurance sports

The research also serves a preventive purpose: The insights gained can be used to offer better medical advice to recreational and elite athletes on how to prepare safely, as well as identifying who should undergo a cardiac health check before taking on demanding endurance events.

«Norseman gives us a unique insight into how our bodies react to such extreme physical stress. The dream is to develop dedicated reference parameters for the healthcare system when assessing individuals who have undergone extreme physical exertion.»

– Professor Jonny Hisdal, University of Oslo / Oslo University Hospital

A new era for field-based medical research

Traditionally, advanced ECG mapping required bulky, specialized laboratory equipment. The fact that researchers from NIH and UiO are now utilizing our compact, user-friendly, and cloud-based ECG247 sensor demonstrates how modern Norwegian medical technology enables world-class research right in the heart of Norwegian nature.*

The data collected during this year’s event will be analyzed by the research team throughout the autumn, with results expected to be published next year.