Final answer:
Sodium bicarbonate is best suited for athletes participating in high-intensity, short-duration sports that rely on anaerobic respiration, such as sprinting, where it can help to buffer lactic acid and delay muscle fatigue.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sodium bicarbonate is considered an ergogenic aid that has the potential to benefit athletes engaged in specific types of sports. This substance is particularly suited for athletes participating in events that require high intensity, short-duration exertion where anaerobic respiration is predominant for energy production. Therefore, the type of athlete who would most likely benefit from sodium bicarbonate supplementation is one involved in sports like sprinting or mid-distance running, where lactic acid accumulation in the muscles can impair performance. Sodium bicarbonate acts as a buffer to neutralize the acid, thereby delaying the onset of muscle fatigue and improving performance in high-intensity activities that last from 1 to 7 minutes.