The intent of this bibliographical review was to examine the highest Vo_2 max values of top athletes. The highest mean Vo_2 max values were reported in the case of 8 male Germany Olympic oarsmen and 5 male Swedish top cross-country skiers, and 5 female Finnish cross-country skiers and 6 female American long distance runners: 6.16 l/min, 82.6 ml/kg.min, 4.03 l/min and 68.8 ml/kg.min, respectively. The highest individual Vo_2 max values for male were 7.77 l/min reported in one of the oarsmen winning the Olympic Gold Medals in 1968, and 94ml/kg.min observed in a cross-country ski champion in Norway. Furthermore, the highest individual Vo_2 max values for female were 4.44 l/min in a Russian cross-country skier, and 77 ml/kg.min in an American long distance runner and a Russian cross-country skier.