A UA nutrition study is reshaping training strategies for Olympic athletes.

University of Arizona nutrition specialist Linda Houtkooper has developed a program for elite women heptathletes.

Olympic heptathletes in the study, Kelly Blair and Sharon Hanson, placed eighth and ninth, respectively, in last weekend's Olympic heptathlon. Seven of the top eight spots on the United States team were filled by women in the study.

A heptathlon is a combination of seven track and field events performed over two days. The events are 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter race, long jump, javelin throw and 800-meter race.

"The nature of the heptathlete's training is high endurance, even though the event itself is short in duration and high intensity," Houtkooper said.

Top women heptathletes have been attending a weeklong training program at the UA as part of the seven-year, ongoing study, Houtkooper said. She said the athletes "come here to improve their competitive edge."

Sharon Hanson has been participating in the program since the beginning, Houtkooper said. She said this is the first time she has made the Olympics.

The athletes must record everything they eat during active training, Houtkooper said. She said they get a complete nutritional analysis of what they eat.

"Kelly Blair consumes 4,000 calories every day," Houtkooper said. She said it is important to not only know how much they eat, but the nutritional content of what they eat.

"I can then make recommendations for improving the athlete's diet," she said. "It helps if they have a plan."

Houtkooper said the study provides athletes with a training manual, so they can always have their personal nutritional recommendations with them and plan their eating.

"It is most important for the athletes to drink fluid before, during and after they exercise," Houtkooper said.

Athletes can receive big benefits from nutritional counseling, she said.

"Clearly genetic potential and talent are needed, but nutritional counseling can give them the physical support they need," Houtkooper said.

Good nutrition has made the women in this study become very lean while having a high bone mineral density, Houtkooper said. She said this is not typical of female athletes, who usually lose bone mineral density as they train.