OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our research is to examine whether the cardiorespiratory performance indicators of the Women's Champions League winner Hungarian handball team players are different from those of the Hungarian second division ladies. We assume the first-class team players (Győri Audi ETO) cardiorespiratory performance indicators are higher than the lower-class players indicators.

METHODS: During the examination we measured the women’s handball players cardiorespiratory features (respiratory exchange ratio, maximum oxygen uptake, load duration) in a performance diagnostic laboratory. In our study was 25 handball players (n=25). First division was Győri Audi ETO, second division was Kozármisleny SE. During the statistical data processing, we used a descriptive and inference statistical methods (correlation analysis, two-sample T-test).

RESULTS: The mean height and age of the team Kozármisleny SE’s (second division) women handball players were lower (173.00±5.37 cm; 24.00±3.65 years) than the Champions League winner team Győri Audi ETO’s players mean height and age (175.50±5.32 cm; 24.00±3.65 years). The results of the two-sample T-test show that the younger team has significantly higher value for respiratory exchange ratio (RER=1.15±0.08) than the older team’s players from Győr (RER=1.05±0.03). Significant difference between maximum oxygen uptake (VO₂max) data could not be detected (p=0.407) however, the duration of the load for the Győri Audi ETO’s (T=662.50±119.73) was significantly higher (p=0.003) than the team Kozármisleny SE’s results (T=476.35±54.44 sec).

CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in aerobic capacity between the players of the two teams, but the higher-class women players were able to be charged for a longer period of time. This result shows that higher class players can maintain their performance under lab conditions for longer than players in the first division.