Athletes and their coaches must pay special attention to nutritional care as an integral part of a proper diet for optimal physical development of athletes and achieving optimal results. Special exception in sports science is given to endurance athletes. Particular attention is paid to endurance-trained female athletes who are often attributed to the unbalanced nutritional risk group. These data led to the objective: to assess the nutritional status and body composition of Lithuanian high-performance cyclists by gender. In 2012, during the general preparation have been investigated and evaluated the diet and body composition of Lithuanian high-performance cyclists (n = 50). The results showed that the optimal physical development of male athletes and moderate physical development of female athletes is determined by Lithuanian elite cyclist’s diet. Regardless of gender, athlete’s nutrition does not meet the requirements. This is confirmed by the data that protein intake of cyclists does not meet the guidelines, including the fact that carbohydrate, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin A and vitamin D, magnesium and manganese intake is lower than recommended. Male athletes consume too much fat, saturated fatty acids and cholesterol, while female athletes are assigned to the risk group of an unbalanced nutrition. Energy intake of female athletes is less then energy expenditure. Women’s diet is critically low in carbohydrates, protein, essential amino acids such as valine, leucine, isoleucine, methionine, lysine, phenylalanine, omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B12, folic acid, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, copper and zinc. In conclusion: cyclist’s nutrition must be optimized, individualized and adjusted according to the athletes’ gender. Based on the scientific basis, cyclists are highly recommended for the supplementation with carbohydrate, essential fatty acids (omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids), vitamins and minerals.

Physical development of high-performance winter sports athletes must be optimal, and with proper diets athletes must ensure an increased their body’s needs for essential nutrients. Only a scientific evaluation of the athletes’ nutrition status provides the opportunity to adjust, optimize and personalize their diets properly. The aim of the present research was to assess nutrition status (3-day food records), physical development for high-performance Lithuanian skiers and biathletes. Research on the athletes nutrition status and physical development was carried out in the preparatory competition period in 2013. The sample included skiers (n = 14) and biathletes (n = 20). The results showed that nutrition profile of Lithuanian elite skiers and biathletes determines an optimal physical development of male athletes and a moderate physical development of female athletes. Nevertheless, nutrition status of skiers and biathletes does not meet the requirements. This is confirmed by the data that protein intake of athletes does not meet the guidelines, their diets lack carbohydrates and there is too much fat. It was found that the athletes’ nutrition status depends on gender. Male athletes’ diets do not contain enough carbohydrates, polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids), vitamin D and contain too much protein, fat, saturated fatty acids and cholesterol. On the contrary, the energy intake of food does not cover the energy expenditure of female athletes, their diets lack carbohydrates, protein, non-essential aminoacid phenilalanine, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins D, A, B1, B2, B12, folic acid and minerals potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, copper and zinc. In conclusion the nutrition of high-performance winter sports athletes in Lithuania must be optimized, individualized and adjusted according to the gender. Special attention must be paid to nutritional care of female athletes, which nutrition profile does not meet the requirements and can‘t stimulate maximal adaptation of the body to long-lasting and (or) highintensity physical loads.