Citation Rankings
Highly Cited Researchers
EuropeEducation / Physical Education and Sport Science Highly Cited Researchers 3.151 Scientists Citation Rankings - 2025
The Citation Rankings (Highly Cited Researchers) list highlight the most cited and influential researchers across a vast range of scientific fields, covering 197 main and sub-disciplines, including the Art and Humanities Citation Rankings and Social Sciences and Humanities Citation Rankings. This service, offered exclusively by AD Scientific Index, aims to provide a balanced perspective by excluding data from CERN and other statistical sources that disproportionately favor certain researchers, particularly in the social sciences and humanities. This unique approach addresses the advantages researchers with multi-author publications and CERN involvement hold over others. Furthermore, citation rankings help uncover rule violations and unethical practices within the research community. For more detailed citation analyses, explore the Scientists Last 6 Years Citation Index, Universities Total Citations Rankings 2025, and Universities Last 6 Years Citations Rankings 2025.
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
Physical Activity
Epidemiology
Public Health
Sport Science
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
149,457
82,271
0.550
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* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Ciencias del Deporte
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
81,904
58,983
0.720
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
physical activity
exercise
health
obesity
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
71,193
43,254
0.608
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Sport
Health
Performance
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
51,427
22,296
0.434
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
exercise
physiology
nitrate
endurance
fatigue
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
44,254
16,964
0.383
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Sport Exercise and Health
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
41,310
14,457
0.350
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Exercise Science
Biostatistics
Health
Cycling
Association Football
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
40,744
14,237
0.349
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
exercise
health
skills
children
analytics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
40,594
23,246
0.573
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Physical activity
Sport Sciences
Exercise
Fitness
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
39,386
15,520
0.394
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Through advanced, institution-specific analytics and benchmarking, gain data-driven strategic insights into your academic performance, global standing, and competitive strengths. Compare your institution with 20 similarly ranked institutions at city, country, regional, and global levels, as well as with those in similar standings across 13 subjects, to uncover your institution’s strengths. More Info
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Sport Science
neurophysiology.
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
35,815
32,582
0.910
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Exercise Physiology
Sport Sciences
Sports Sciences
Sport Science
Physiology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
34,744
12,669
0.365
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Physical activity
exercise and health
body composition
sedentary behaviour
sports sciences
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
34,376
24,624
0.716
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Sport Sciences
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
29,339
26,383
0.899
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
sport
physical activity
mental health
young people
policy
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
28,868
6,814
0.236
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Sport Science
Altitude
Exercise Physiology
Hypoxia
Fatigue
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
28,280
14,021
0.496
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
Exercise Physiology
Sports Medicine in Elite Sport
Football
Regeneration
Design of Appropriate Preventive Training Programmes
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
27,612
15,201
0.551
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Exercise
Oxidative Stress
Skeletal muscle
Healthy Aging
Frailty
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
26,374
14,063
0.533
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
physical fitness
physical activity
physical education
24-hour movement behaviour
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
26,680
20,174
0.756
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Physical activity
physical education
public health
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
26,234
18,860
0.719
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Exercise Physiology
Sport Science
Motivation
Fatigue
Exercise Science
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
25,466
12,677
0.498
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Sport Science
Physical Activity and Health
Actividad física y salud
Ejercicio
Composición corporal
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
24,302
8,521
0.351
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Exercise Science
Sport Sciences
Exercise
Health
Fitness
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
21,936
7,830
0.357
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
sport and exercise sciences
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
21,893
15,632
0.714
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
exercise
fitness
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
21,634
13,615
0.629
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
strength training
Physical Education
Sport Sciences
Sport Science
Sports Science
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
20,820
10,951
0.526
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,600
3
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
Ulf Ekelund
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
149,457
82,271
0.550
Physical Activity
Epidemiology
Public Health
Sport Science
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
4,738
95
2
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Adsuar, JC
Universidad de Extremadura
Badajoz, Spain
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
81,904
58,983
0.720
Ciencias del Deporte
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
6,503
123
5
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
Francisco B Ortega
Universidad de Granada
Granada, Spain
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
71,193
43,254
0.608
physical activity
exercise
health
obesity
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
9,947
73
7
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Peter Krustrup
University of Southern Denmark
Tianjin, Denmark
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
51,427
22,296
0.434
Sport
Health
Performance
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
12,636
1,112
22
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Andrew Jones
University of Exeter
Exeter, United Kingdom
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
44,254
16,964
0.383
exercise
physiology
nitrate
endurance
fatigue
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
13,998
1,234
4
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Alan Nevill
University of Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
41,310
14,457
0.350
Sport Exercise and Health
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
14,484
1,262
3
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Greg Atkinson
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool, United Kingdom
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
40,744
14,237
0.349
Exercise Science
Biostatistics
Health
Cycling
Association Football
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
14,579
1,271
5
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Gareth Stratton
Swansea University
Swansea, United Kingdom
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
40,594
23,246
0.573
exercise
health
skills
children
analytics
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
15,152
243
7
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Jonatan R Ruiz
Universidad de Granada
Granada, Spain
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
39,386
15,520
0.394
Physical activity
Sport Sciences
Exercise
Fitness
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
17,938
298
4
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Santos Villafaina
Universidad de Extremadura
Badajoz, Spain
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
35,815
32,582
0.910
Sport Science
neurophysiology.
360° Institutional Performance & Benchmarking Click Here for Live Demo
Through advanced, institution-specific analytics and benchmarking, gain data-driven strategic insights into your academic performance, global standing, and competitive strengths. Compare your institution with 20 similarly ranked institutions at city, country, regional, and global levels, as well as with those in similar standings across 13 subjects, to uncover your institution’s strengths. More Info
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
18,375
306
2
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Jose A Calbet
Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
34,744
12,669
0.365
Exercise Physiology
Sport Sciences
Sports Sciences
Sport Science
Physiology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
19,108
45
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Diana A Santos
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
34,376
24,624
0.716
Physical activity
exercise and health
body composition
sedentary behaviour
sports sciences
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
24,241
434
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Daniel Collado Mateo
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
Móstoles, Spain
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
29,339
26,383
0.899
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
24,573
2,146
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Andy Smith
Edge Hill University
Ormskirk, United Kingdom
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
28,868
6,814
0.236
sport
physical activity
mental health
young people
policy
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
25,659
481
37
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Grégoire Millet
Université de Lausanne
Lausanne, Switzerland
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
28,280
14,021
0.496
Sport Science
Altitude
Exercise Physiology
Hypoxia
Fatigue
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
26,497
1,161
4
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
Tim Meyer
Universität des Saarlandes
Saarbrücken, Germany
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
27,612
15,201
0.551
Exercise Physiology
Sports Medicine in Elite Sport
Football
Regeneration
Design of Appropriate Preventive Training Programmes
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
27,053
483
34
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Mari Carmen Gomez-Cabrera
Universitat de València
Valencia, Spain
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
26,374
14,063
0.533
Exercise
Oxidative Stress
Skeletal muscle
Healthy Aging
Frailty
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
28,380
12
6
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
Gregor Jurak
University of Ljubljana
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
26,680
20,174
0.756
physical fitness
physical activity
physical education
24-hour movement behaviour
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
28,858
107
4
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Elaine Murtagh
University of Limerick
Limerick, Ireland
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
26,234
18,860
0.719
Physical activity
physical education
public health
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
30,146
1,177
50
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Samuele Marcora
Università di Bologna
Bologna, Italy
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
25,466
12,677
0.498
Exercise Physiology
Sport Science
Motivation
Fatigue
Exercise Science
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
31,517
589
10
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Germán Vicente Rodríguez
Universidad de Zaragoza
Zaragoza, Spain
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
24,302
8,521
0.351
Sport Science
Physical Activity and Health
Actividad física y salud
Ejercicio
Composición corporal
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
36,409
157
6
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Yiannis Koutedakis
University of Thessaly
Volos, Greece
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
21,936
7,830
0.357
Exercise Science
Sport Sciences
Exercise
Health
Fitness
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
37,517
3,280
12
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
Lynne M Boddy
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool, United Kingdom
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
21,893
15,632
0.714
sport and exercise sciences
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
38,550
177
17
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Jari Laukkanen
University of Eastern Finland
Joensuu, Finland
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
21,634
13,615
0.629
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
39,377
755
3
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
Juan José González Badillo
Universidad Pablo de Olavide
Sevilla, Spain
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
20,820
10,951
0.526
strength training
Physical Education
Sport Sciences
Sport Science
Sports Science