Bradycardia in athletes: The result of training or a genetic cause

Bradycardia in athletes: The result of training or a genetic cause

Endurance athletes often exhibit low resting heart rates as a result of excessive training.

However, according to a recent study published in Circulation there seems to be a genetic predisposition to prominent bradycardia.

The study, which included 465 endurance athletes, supports the concept that some athletes are not only trained to have low heart rates but are also genetically predisposed to them.

This research raises the possibility that being born with a genetic substrate of lower heart rate increases the likelihood of better athletic performance, without any risk of cardiovascular events.

Reference:
Circulation. Originally Published 18 December 2025
Bradycardia in Athletes: Prevalence, Mechanisms, and Risks
https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.125.076170