REFERENCE AGES OF MEDALLISTS AT THE PORTUGUESE ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS: A 30-YEAR STUDY (1990-2019)

ABSTRACT

According to the literature, a precise inventory of the distribution of the best-performing ages in the different athletics disciplines can provide unique information when producing long-term training plans and programs for events at the highest level. This study aims to identify the age at which athletes participating in the Portuguese athletics championships performed best, with reference to the disciplines and sectors that characterize the competition. All medal-winning participations were considered (indoor track and field, n = 2310; outdoor track and field, n = 3161). Confidence intervals for the average age of medal-winning athletes were obtained using the Generalized Estimating Equations method. The results indicated that the average ages were (i) Indoor track and field - lower in the women's pole vault (21.60 years) and men's long jump (24.42 years), and higher in the women's 3000 m run (25.18 years) and men's 5000 m race walk (29.70 years); (ii) Outdoor track and field - lower in the women's long jump (22.90 years) and men's 200m (23.46 years), and higher in the women's 5000 m (27.55 years) and men's 10000 m race walk (32.23 years). The results suggest that the best-performing ages are (i) Indoor track and field - between 23 and 24 years old in female athletes and 24 and 25 years old in male athletes; (ii) Outdoor track and field - between 23 and 25 years old in female athletes, and 24 and 26 years old in male athletes. Objective knowledge of the best-performing ages in the Portuguese athletics championships by gender and discipline could be useful information for efficient talent and career management.

Keywords:
Athletics; Performance; Gender; Age; Indoor track and field; Outdoor track and field