Performance dispersion for evidence-based classification of stationary throwers

There is a need for better understanding of the dispersion of classification-related variable to develop an evidence-based classification of athletes with a disability participating in stationary throwing events.

The purposes of this study were as follows: (1) to describe tools designed to comprehend and represent the dispersion of the performance between successive classes and (2) to present this dispersion for the elite male and female stationary shot-putters who participated in Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

Retrospective study.

This study analysed a total of 479 attempts performed by 114 male and female stationary shot-putters in three F30s (F32-F34) and seven F50s (F52-F58) classes during the course of eight events during Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

The average differences of best performance were 1.46 ± 0.46 m for males between F54 and F58 classes as well as 1.06 ± 1.18 m for females between F55 and F58 classes. The results demonstrated a linear relationship between best performance and classification while revealing two male gold medallists in F33 and F52 classes as outliers.

This study confirms the benefits of the comparative matrices, performance continuum and dispersion plots to comprehend classification-related variables. The study presented here represents a stepping stone into biomechanical analyses of stationary throwers, particularly on the eve of the London 2012 Paralympic Games where new evidences could be gathered.