The impact of technology on sporting performance in Olympic sports

Abstract

To assess the effect of technology on sport, the performance statistics for four disciplines were analysed: the 100-m sprint, pole vault, javelin, and cycling. The concept of a performance improvement index was developed to allow comparison between athletes and between sports with a higher index indicating a greater improvement in the sport. The following performance improvement indices were found: 100-m sprint, 24% over 108 years; pole vault, 86% over 94 years; javelin, 95% over 76 years; 4-km individual pursuit, 35% over 32 years; one-hour cycling record, 221% over 111 years. Around 4% of the index for the sprint was attributed to tighter, aerodynamic clothing, suggesting that general athletic improvement in sprint-type events has been around 20%. Technological developments in simple equipment such as the pole vault or javelin were seen to affect the index by around 30%, while the index associated with aerodynamic improvements in the one-hour record was around 100%. It is concluded that the performance improvement index could be extended to amateur as well as elite sport where distance or time is used as a measure of performance.

The Progression of Male 100 m Sprinting with a Lower-Limb Amputation 1976–2012

“…The specific reason for this peak can only be speculated. It has been demonstrated that of a typical historical performance improvement change, some of this can be attributed to clothing [8] or the social impact of war [10], but the able-bodied athlete's data over the same evaluated time period do not reflect similar sudden increases in PII that the amputee sprinting group demonstrated. Acknowledging that there were no changes in disability classification at the Paralympics between 1984 and 1988 (which may account for the sudden change in performance or participation), this suggests that there are other causative factors involved which are unique to disability sprinting.…”

“…The PII has also been used to explore the impact of World Wars 1 and 2 upon running short, middle and long distance world records [9], and on the impact of technological innovation in Olympic field jumping events [10]. The PII cannot currently identify the exact proportion of impact of sports technology change, but it has been shown to corroborate anecdotal evidence of change such as the inception of new materials used for the pole vault or a change in the aerodynamic design of bicycles [8]. As a result, it is a complementary tool to inform debate rather than to generate substantive findings.…”

“…This formula was initially derived as part of a linear regression process [8]. This formula addresses work done by a body overcoming aerodynamic drag when moving and for a fixed air density.…”

“…As a result, it is a complementary tool to inform debate rather than to generate substantive findings. When considering timed events over fixed distances, Haake [8] defines the Performance Improvement Index as:…”

“…The first method uses the Performance Improvement Index [8]. The Performance Improvement Index (PII) primarily assesses sports performance change from one set of performance data to another using the results of an event.…”