Nine hundred eighty-three top Italian track and field athletes (700 males and 
283 females) were examined for survival, mortality and causes of death for an 
average follow-up period of 18.6 years starting from their last year of 
competition as members of the national team. Overall mortality rates were 
compared to the rates expected on the basis of the life tables for Italian 
people of the same age, sex and time period. Thirty-four deaths were observed 
among males (vs 46.6 expected) with a O/E ratio of 0.73, while 3 deaths were 
observed among women (vs 6.2 expected) with a O/E ratio of 0.48. Neither of 
these differences was significant, but the O/E ratio for the group as a whole 
was quite significant (p = 0.0296). Some of the athletes demonstrated 
behavioural characteristics developed during their active careers that might 
have contributed to their low mortality rate.