Health

Quick facts

Lorenzo Delano

Delano gesturing while speaking on a panel stage in Dubai

Delano directing a MasterClass film shoot, holding a clapperboard

Delano presenting on a blue-lit stage, headset mic and clicker in hand

Camera-monitor view of Delano directing a kitchen scene, reviewing a laptop with an actor

Delano crouching with a laptop beside Steven Kotler at a shoot

Delano coaching a family seated around a living-room table

Delano leading a training workshop around a table

Delano in 2020 (Joburg)

Identity(See Story)

Born: Lorenzo Delano7 December 1987 (age 38)Krugersdorp, South Africa
Phenotype: Caucasian, maleBlue eyes and brown hairAverage height (176 cm)
Ancestry: Western European (Dutch)
Ethnicity: Afrikaner
Language: Afrikaans; English; Mandarin
Citizenship: South African

Professional(See Knowledge)

Occupation: Applied taxonomist
Industry: Education, health, and tech
Works: Design methodologiesPublished designs
Skills: Knowledge organizationPedagogyProduction
Education: Self-directed (since age 13)Certified coach and designerMandarin distinction
Employment: Independent (results-based)
Residency: United States (since 2026)No sponsorship required

Psychological(See Nature)

Intelligence: RIOT: Full-scale IQ 112
Worldview: Rational optimist
Personality: HEXACO: Disciplined, honest, and curious
Values: PVQ: Autonomy, achievement, and universal-care
Interests: RIASEC: Investigative, artistic, and social

Personal(See Pages)

About: What makes a person?
Lifestyle: Days by design, cities by scorecard
Health: Elite VO₂max, optimal labs
Wealth: Debt free with high credit score
Network: Unmarried and no children

Health is one body read at three levels: how soundly it’s built (integrity), how steadily it holds — and returns to — rest (balance), and what it can do under load (capacity) — from full rest to all-out effort.

At 1.76 m and 74.3 kg I sit high on all three: a lean and muscular frame over sound bone, clean blood and a heart that idles low yet opens a wide reserve, and broad strength with deep aerobic capacity. Below is my health status for 2026.

Integrity (Structure)

How my body is built and holds together, in two readings of one frame: its make-up of muscle, fat, and bone (compositional) and its proportion (geometric). Mine is lean and muscular over sound bone, carrying little central fat.



I run leaner than 19 in 20 men, with minimal visceral fat : 8.2% (<5th percentile) Total mass: 74.3 kg Fat mass: 5.9 kg : 114 g

I carry more muscle than four in five men my age : 9.4 kg/m² (>85th percentile) Height squared: 3.09 m² Appendicular lean mass: 29.1 kg

My whole-body bone density is sound, near the age-matched average : 1.213 g/cm² (37th percentile) Bone mineral content: 2.753 kg


My waist is well under half my height — low central-fat risk : 0.45 Height: 176 cm Waist circumference: 80 cm

Balance (Homeostasis)

How steadily my body holds a resting state, and how well it returns to one after load, in two readings of one system: its blood chemistry (biomolecular) and its circulation (hemodynamic). Mine sits low and calm at rest yet opens a wide cardiac reserve under effort, on low-risk lipids and a metabolism efficient even when stressed.



My lipids sit at low-risk levels, with iron and oxygen transport in full supply : 0.70 g/L / 70 mg/dL (~15th percentile) : 14.1 g/dL : 166 µg/L

My blood sugar and insulin run low — a metabolism efficient even under load : 5.2% (eAG: 5.7 mmol/L) : 4.2 mIU/L : 1.8 mmol/L @ 70% VO₂max (2.5 W/kg)

My liver and kidneys clear at full function, unstressed : 101 mL/min/1.73m² : 26 IU/L : 0.28 mmol/L / 4.7 mg/dL


My heart idles low, opens a wide reserve, and recovers fast : 110/65 mmHg (<30th percentile) : 126 bpm Resting heart rate: 50 bpm Max heart rate: 176 bpm (measured) : 36 bpm

Capacity (Performance)

What my body can do under load, in two readings of one output: the force and movement it produces (biomechanical) and the energy that fuels it (bioenergetic). Mine is broad — strength and power head to toe, high aerobic capacity, and efficient fuel use.



I squat on one leg, pull double bodyweight, and curl my own hamstrings : 6 pistol squats per leg (L5) : 150 kg barbell deadlift (L4) : 1 hinge nordic-curl (L3)

I hold my trunk rigid through levers, front and back : 0:15 sec V-sit (L5) : 0:15 sec back lever (L5) : 0:05 sec front lever (L5)

I pull 20 reps, dip 25, and press 60 kg overhead : 20 pull-ups (L4) : 25 chest dips (L4) : 60 kg barbell press (L3)

I move my whole body fast, far, and under load : 60 kg barbell overhead squat (L3) : 2.4 m broad jump (L4) : 200 m sprint in 32 sec (L5)


I take up oxygen in the top decile for my age, burning fat deep into effort : 53 ml/kg/min (L5) : 60% VO₂max (L4)

References (Data)

My data derived from tests performed under resting, fasted conditions

Biochemistry: Phlebotomy (Jan 2026); tests for ApoB, HbA1c, fasting insulin, ferritin, hemoglobin, eGFR, ALT, and uric acid (biochemistry & hematology) • report (Pathcare)
Composition: Densitometry (May 2026); tests for height, total mass, ALMI, percent body fat, VAT, and bone density (Lunar iDXA) • report (Cape Radiology)
Geometry: Anthropometry (Jan 2026); tests for waist circumference (Iliac Crest ‘NHANES’ method) • reading (tape)
Circulation: Sphygmomanometry (Jan 2026); tests for blood pressure and resting heart rate (OMRON) • reading (monitor)

My data derived from tests performed under load

Bioenergetics: Indirect calorimetry (Sep 2024); tests for VO₂max, peak power output, and maximum heart rate (Cosmed Quark CPET) • report (opens in a new tab) (Science2Sport)
Lactate: Capillary prick (Sep 2024); tests for blood lactate (Nova biomedical lactate plus) • reading (device)
Heart rate: Electrocardiography (Jan 2026); tests for maximum heart rate and heart rate recovery (Polar H10) • reading (app)
Biomechanics: Total-fitness battery (Jan 2026); tests for local hip, core, shoulder and global functional capacity (multi-modal testing facility) • report (video)

References (Guidelines)

The studies informing my reference range targets for lifespan

VO₂max: Mandsager, R., et al. (2018). Association of cardiorespiratory fitness with long-term mortality among adults undergoing exercise treadmill testing. JAMA Network Open, 1(6). PubMed (opens in a new tab)
Blood pressure: Lewington, S., et al. (2002). Age-specific relevance of usual blood pressure to vascular mortality. Lancet, 360(9349). PubMed (opens in a new tab)
ApoB: Sniderman, A. D., et al. (2019). Apolipoprotein B particles and cardiovascular disease: a narrative review. JAMA Cardiology, 4(12). PubMed (opens in a new tab)
HbA1c: Selvin, E., et al. (2010). Glycated hemoglobin, diabetes, and cardiovascular risk in nondiabetic adults. New England Journal of Medicine, 362(9). PubMed (opens in a new tab)
HR recovery: Cole, C. R., et al. (1999). Heart-rate recovery immediately after exercise as a predictor of mortality. New England Journal of Medicine, 341(18). PubMed (opens in a new tab)
HR reserve: Lauer, M. S., et al. (1999). Impaired chronotropic response to exercise stress testing as a predictor of mortality. JAMA, 281(6). PubMed (opens in a new tab)
ALMI: Cruz-Jentoft, A. J., et al. (2019). Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis (EWGSOP2). Age and Ageing, 48(1). PubMed (opens in a new tab)
VAT: Britton, K. A., et al. (2013). Body fat distribution, incident cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all-cause mortality. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 62(10). PubMed (opens in a new tab)
Waist-to-height ratio: Ashwell, M., Gunn, P., and Gibson, S. (2012). Waist-to-height ratio is a better screening tool than waist circumference and BMI. Obesity Reviews, 13(3). PubMed (opens in a new tab)
Bone density: Marshall, D., Johnell, O., and Wedel, H. (1996). Meta-analysis of how well measures of bone mineral density predict occurrence of osteoporotic fractures. BMJ, 312(7041). PubMed (opens in a new tab)

The sources informing my performance standards for healthspan

Lower-body strength: Pistol squat and nordic curl ladders from personal experience, benchmarked against GymnasticBodies (opens in a new tab), the sit-to-rise test (opens in a new tab), and ATG (opens in a new tab) standards
Barbell strength: Deadlift, overhead press, and overhead squat ladders from personal experience, adapted from CrossFit (opens in a new tab) standards
Upper-body strength: Weighted pull-up and chest dip ladders from personal experience, benchmarked against StrengthLevel (opens in a new tab) standards
Core stability: Compression strength and tensegrity ladders from personal experience, benchmarked against FIG (opens in a new tab), MAG, and COP (opens in a new tab) standards
Global power: Broad jump and sprint ladders from personal experience, benchmarked against ExRx (opens in a new tab), Top End Sports (opens in a new tab), and world-record marks