Age of peak performance in Olympic sports: A comparative research among disciplines

This research aimed to study the ages of peak performance in Olympic sport disciplines, and to distinguish age groups among them. The ages (in decimal years) of athletes with the best performances at the 2012 Summer Olympics were considered (n = 3548). A total of forty sport disciplines were included; the athletics events were classified in six disciplines: Sprint, Middle-distance, Long-distance, Combined, Jumping and Throwing. A full statistical summary was produced. A regression tree was proposed for each gender to discriminate groups of sport disciplines according to age. The ages ranged from 14.0 to 52.8 years. The 72% of the athletes aged between 20 and 30 years, and the 99% aged below 40 years. The mean ages for men and women were 27.0 and 26.2 years, respectively. The regression tree analysis generated four groups of sport disciplines in men, and five in women. In men, the mean ages of the groups were: Group 1 = 24.4, Group 2 = 25.9, Group 3 = 28.0 and Group 4 = 30.8. In women, the mean ages of the groups were: Group 1 = 19.9, Group 2 = 22.7, Group 3 = 24.6, Group 4 = 26.5 and Group 5 = 28.3. The combat, gymnastics and swimming disciplines located mostly in the youngest groups in men; a similar tendency was evidenced in women, except for the combat sports. Apart from Combined, all athletics disciplines located in the groups 4 and 5 in women. On the contrary, these disciplines sited mainly in the groups 1 and 2 in men. All game and nautical sports placed in the two eldest groups in both genders, excluding women Water Polo.
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Aiheet: ikä huippu-urheilu urheilu kesäolympialaiset 2012 pikajuoksu keskimatkan juoksu kestävyysjuoksu hyppy heittää monilajinen yleisurheilu kamppailu-urheilu telinevoimistelu uinti jousiammunta sulkapallo koripallo rantalentopallo BMX, temppupyörä nyrkkeily kilpamelonta melonta maastopyöräily sukellus miekkailu maahockey käsipallo judo moderni viisiottelu avovesiuinti maantiepyöräily pyöräily soutu purjehdus ammunta pöytätennis taekwondo tennis ratapyöräily trampoliini triathlon lentopallo vesipallo painonnosto paini
Aihealueet: valmennusoppi kestävyys urheilu urheilukilpailut voima ja nopeus urheilu kamppailu-urheilu tekniset lajit
DOI: 10.14198/jhse.2016.111.03
Julkaisussa: Journal of Human Sport & Exercise
Julkaistu: 2016
Vuosikerta: 11
Numero: 1
Sivuja: 31-41
Julkaisutyypit: artikkeli
Kieli: englanti (kieli)
Taso: kehittynyt