Exercise-induced bronchospasm in the XXIII summer Olympic games.

The U.S. Olympic Team demonstrated a significant prevalence of Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm (EIB) among world-class athletes (11.2). Nearly all sports were involved but endurance events seemed to have the highest prevalence of team members with EIB. Resting pulmonary function studies were poor discriminators of athletes affected with EIB. The 67 athletes of the 597 member team were responsible for winning 41 Olympic medals including 15 golds and 21 silvers, clearly demonstrating their ability to compete and succeed in world-class competitive events. These results should send a strong message to young people that they can strive to excel in sports with proper medication and management.