Sex-differences in elite-performance track and field competition from 1983 to 2015

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Athletic Performance Analysis
• Biomechanics

Background:

• The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) posits a 10-12% performance gap between elite male and female track and field athletes.
• Understanding precise sex-differences is crucial for fair competition and regulatory frameworks in sports.

Purpose of the Study:

• To empirically validate the CAS's assertion regarding sex-differences in elite track and field performance.
• To quantify the magnitude of performance disparities between male and female athletes across various track and field disciplines.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from IAAF World Championships and Olympic Games finals (1983-2016).
• Applied exponential curve fitting to performance data for selected track and field events.
• Calculated coefficients of determination (R²), confidence intervals, and analyzed mean performances of winners and all participants.

Main Results:

• Quantified sex-differences in sprints (8.2-11.8%), middle/long-distance (10.3-12.8%), relays (9.7-13.1%), and jumps (14.2-25.0%).
• Results indicate a range of performance differences across event categories, with jumps showing the largest disparities.
• The calculated sex-differences align with and support the CAS's benchmark range.

Conclusions:

• The study confirms the appropriateness of the CAS-accepted percentage difference for elite track and field events.
• Empirical data supports the existing regulatory benchmarks for sex-differences in athletic performance.
• Findings contribute to the scientific understanding of physiological sex-differences in elite sports performance.