It has been demonstrated that free radical production is elevated after strenuous physical activities in humans. One of the adaptations to regular physical training is the up-regulation of antioxidant defense system, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), which could protect from free radical-induced oxidative damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different types of physical training on erythrocyte SOD and GPX activities and malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, in collegiate female athletes. Forty female athletes were divided into the aerobic group (AE, 10 swimmers and 10 middle-or long-distance runners) and the anaerobic group (ANA. 10 basketball players and 10 weightlifters). Ten sedentary female subjects with matched age were also recruited as the control group (CON). SOD was significantly higher in ANA than in AL and CON, while GPX was significantly higher in ANA than CON. MDA was significantly higher in AL than in ANA and CON. This study suggested that regular aerobic training, but not anaerobic training, could increase SOD and GPX activities and prevent free radical damage resulted from elevated physical activity in female collegiate athletes.