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.
The present study focuses on the issue of the achievement of stability in life by former amateur fencers in the context of post-communist Polish society. The main aim of the study was an analysis of non-sport spheres of life of former fencers, such as occupation, material situation, family life, and health. The sample consisted of 51 former Polish fencers. A diagnostic survey was conducted with the use of the questionnaire technique. It was revealed that the subjects successfully achieved social stability after they retired from sports. However, since they had been amateur athletes, they had been forced to choose appropriate strategies and actions during their sports careers to ensure professional, economic, and family stability in their future lives. Those who experienced difficulties in combining the role of athlete with other social roles were most often forced to give up fencing. The former fencers observe a multidirectional impact of sports on all aspects of their lives.
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