TY - JOUR
T1 - Is There a Relative Age Effect among the Most Successful Track and Field Athletes?
AU - Bezuglov, Eduard
AU - Semeniuk, Nadezhda
AU - Shoshorina, Maria
AU - Savin, Evgeny
AU - Waśkiewicz, Zbigniew
AU - Emanov, Anton
AU - Malyakin, Georgiy
AU - Telyshev, Danila
AU - Morgans, Ryland
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024, Termedia Publishing House Ltd.. All rights reserved.
PY - 2023/11/28
Y1 - 2023/11/28
N2 - The prevalence of the Relative Age Effect (RAE) was studied among medalists from the World Athletics Championships at U18, U20 and Senior age groups and from the Olympic Games from 2000 to 2022. The specific events examined were the 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, and 3000/5000 m, the long jump, the triple jump, the high jump and the pole vault. Dates of birth from 1,858 outdoor track and field athletes were analysed and further divided into four groups according to the quartile of birth. The RAE was found to be widespread among athletes of both sexes in U18 and U20 age groups in all examined disciplines. There was no difference between the most successful U18 and U20 athletes (p = 0.52). Among senior athletes of both sexes, this effect was not detected and the number of "late-born" athletes in this age group was higher than athletes born in the first three quarters. The prevalence of the RAE across the four groups of events was found in U18 and U20 age groups. Additionally, within each age group, the difference among events was statistically significant. In most successful track and field athletes, the RAE is only significant in U18 and U20 age groups. In senior athletes, the number of "late-born" athletes is significant while RAE disappears. These data may be considered when assessing the athletic potential of an individual athlete.
AB - The prevalence of the Relative Age Effect (RAE) was studied among medalists from the World Athletics Championships at U18, U20 and Senior age groups and from the Olympic Games from 2000 to 2022. The specific events examined were the 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, and 3000/5000 m, the long jump, the triple jump, the high jump and the pole vault. Dates of birth from 1,858 outdoor track and field athletes were analysed and further divided into four groups according to the quartile of birth. The RAE was found to be widespread among athletes of both sexes in U18 and U20 age groups in all examined disciplines. There was no difference between the most successful U18 and U20 athletes (p = 0.52). Among senior athletes of both sexes, this effect was not detected and the number of "late-born" athletes in this age group was higher than athletes born in the first three quarters. The prevalence of the RAE across the four groups of events was found in U18 and U20 age groups. Additionally, within each age group, the difference among events was statistically significant. In most successful track and field athletes, the RAE is only significant in U18 and U20 age groups. In senior athletes, the number of "late-born" athletes is significant while RAE disappears. These data may be considered when assessing the athletic potential of an individual athlete.
KW - athletic events
KW - RAE
KW - senior athletes
KW - youth athletes
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85194420470&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5114/jhk/174497
DO - 10.5114/jhk/174497
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85194420470
SN - 1640-5544
VL - 92
SP - 193
EP - 202
JO - Journal of Human Kinetics
JF - Journal of Human Kinetics
ER -