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Principal Component Analysis in the Study of Structure of the Best Polish Decathlon Competitors from the Period between 1985–2015

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Dziadek B., Iskra J., Przednowek K.

Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine

2018

vol. 23

issue 3

77-87

The modern decathlon is a sport consisting of ten different events held over two days, played by men. Depending on the complexity of combined events, variety of events (runs, throws, jumps), the multi-stage, time-consuming and difficult training process the sport is considered as one of the most difficult. The analysis of careers of the best decathlon participants and applying advanced data-mining methods can help define the patterns occurring between each decathlon event and the final result. The research material encompasses career data of the 25 top competitors from Poland in years 1985–2015. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used in the research in order to designate new uncorrelated variables (components), representing input data across a new plane. Data analysis involved appointment of correlations between the events, determining the number of main components taken into account in further studies, analysis of the weight of each variable in formation of main components as well as visualisation and interpretation of results in the new plane described by the determined main components. Through the implementation of PCA method in the process of analysis it was possible to designate over 69% of compound data volatility with the use of the first three components. The first component, comprised of seven variables, displays the largest share in the total variability. The study of the relationship between variables in the new plane displayed strong correlations between sprint events (100 m, 110 m hurdles) and long jump and pole vault. No correlations between the 1500 m run and other events were found.

Running preparation and the final decathlon score in terms of sports career development

100%

Dziadek B., Iskra J., Przednowek K.

Physical Activity Review

2016

vol. 4

115-123

Introduction: Success in decathlon contests is achieved by athletes of all ages - from 18 to almost 40 yea rs. The development and importance of individual competitions in the final point score have changed during many years of sports ontogenesis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes taking place in sports performance level within the decathlon runn ing competitions and their impact on the final result during the long - term sports championship (sports career) development. Materials and methods: In the analysis, data concerning the "sports ontogenesis” of the world’s best decathletes (N = 25, mean score 8198 points) were used. The final point score and results in three running competitions, i.e. 100, 400 and 1500m runs were taken into account. In the evaluation of sports championship development, four stages were singled out: junior (up to 19 years), yout h (to 23 years), the age in which the best results are achieved (up to 30 years), and the final stage of sports championship (decrease of the performance level - 31 years and more). The changes in performance level were evaluated based on analysis of varia nce (ANOVA), the relationship between the partial results (runs) and the final score (decathlon) was evaluated based on the Pearson correlation analysis. Results: The calculated values of correlation coefficient showed that there is a relationship between the results achieved in the running events and the total score at the individual stages of athletes’ sports development. The highest Pearson correlation values in all researched periods were determined for the 400m run (|r xy | > 0.59 ; p < 0.05) . Additionall y, at the third stage of sports career development (stage, at which athletes achieve the best results), the final score is also impacted by the level of results achieved at the distance of 100m. The correlation values for distances of 100 and 400m, are at this stage comparable and are approx. |r xy | = 0.6. Conclusions: The greatest impact on the final score achieved by decathletes at all stages of their sports career is running preparation over the distance of 400m.

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1 Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine

1 Physical Activity Review

1 2018

1 2016

2 Dziadek B.

2 Iskra J.

2 Przednowek K.

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Principal Component Analysis in the Study of Structure of the Best Polish Decathlon Competitors from the Period between 1985–2015

Running preparation and the final decathlon score in terms of sports career development