The Effects of a High-Intensity Tabata–Gibala Combined Interval Protocol on Performance Adaptations in Olympic-Level Athletes

The aim of this study was to comprehensively examine the changes associated with a combined Tabata–Gibala high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program on multiple physical performance parameters in Olympic-level athletes. Twenty-seven Olympic-level athletes (14 males and 13 females) competing under the Turkish Athletics Federation voluntarily participated in the study. Over a six-week period, participants performed the combined HIIT protocol three days per week. The program was designed to integrate the maximal-effort short intervals characteristic of the Tabata model with the longer interval structure of the Gibala model, creating a comprehensive and high-demand training stimulus. Performance assessments were conducted before and after the training period and included mean anaerobic power, agility, vertical jump, horizontal jump, flexibility, and dynamic balance tests. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and effect size calculations. The findings indicated significant improvements in mean anaerobic power, agility, vertical jump, horizontal jump, flexibility, and most dynamic balance measures, with generally similar enhancement patterns observed in both male and female athletes (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that participation in the combined Tabata–Gibala HIIT program was associated with improvements in physiological and neuromuscular performance-related parameters within a relatively short timeframe. In conclusion, this integrated interval training approach may represent a time-efficient training strategy associated with improvements in multidimensional performance components in Olympic-level athletes.