Physiological Differences Between Male and Female

Athletes
The physiological differences between men and women
are so great that elite male and female athletes rarely
compete with each other. These differences generally give
men a competitive edge in sports that reward absolute
strength, acceleration and speed. However, these
differences are easily overstated, and in a few cases,
female athletes are the ones who have the advantage
over male athletes because of their particular physiological
characteristics.

Cardiovascular Fitness
Athletes' cardiovascular fitness is measured by their
maximum oxygen consumption, also known as VO2max,
which measures their capacity to transport and use
oxygen during exercise. This is measured by calculating
the point at which an athlete's oxygen consumption
remains steady despite an increase in an exercise
intensity. Elite male athletes have a higher oxygen carrying
capacity than women, which allows them to reach their
maximum training peak earlier. This is probably due to
women's lower hemoglobin levels and men's larger body
size. Maximum oxygen consumption is directly related to
body size.
Bones and Ligaments
Male athletes have longer and larger bones, which provide
a clear mechanical advantage over female athletes. The
increased articular surface and larger structure of male
bones provide them with a greater leverage and a wider
frame on which to support muscle. Similarly, the ligaments
of female athletes are generally more lax and fragile than
those of their male counterparts. This gives male athletes
an advantage in sports that involve throwing, kicking and
hitting, and explains the higher incidence of
musculoskeletal injuries among female athletes. On the
other hand, female athletes have a wider pelvis and a
lower center of gravity, which provides excellent balance.

Strength
Male athletes have a higher ratio of muscle mass to body
weight, which allows for greater speed and acceleration.
This explains why female speed records in running and
swimming are consistently 10 percent slower than men's,
and why, on average, they have two thirds of the strength
of men. However, when you factor out the larger muscle
mass in men and compare muscular strength relative to
cross-section area of muscle, the strength of male and
female athletes is nearly equal.
Endurance
Endurance is largely determined by a body's efficiency
when converting calories into energy. Female athletes are
more efficient than male athletes at converting glycogen to
energy. Glycogen is a secondary source of fuel you use
when glucose levels drop. This is why female athletes
excel in ultra-long-distance sports and rarely hit the wall
during long races. It also explains why ultra-running, which
includes races longer than a marathon, is one of the few
sports where elite female and male athletes regularly
compete together, and in which female athletes
sometimes win.

References
https://work.chron.com/physiological-differences-between-
male-female-athletes-20627.html