The Relative Age Effect in Combat Sports: An Analysis of Olympic Judo Athletes, 1964–2012. Issue 1 (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Albuquerque, Maicon R.; Franchini, Emerson; Lage, Guilherme M.; Da Costa, Varley Teoldo; Costa, Israel T.; Malloy-Diniz, Leandro F.
• Is Part Of: Perceptual and motor skills. Volume 121:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 300
• Page End: 308
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: Perception -- Periodicals; Motor ability -- Periodicals; Motor Skills; Perception; Psychology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 152
• DOI: 10.2466/10.PMS.121c15x2
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-5125

Abstract

This study assessed the relative age effect (RAE) in judo athletes who participated in the Olympic Games from 1964 to 2012. The names and birth-dates of the Olympic judo athletes were collected from open-access websites. Data from male ( n = 1, 762) and female ( n = 665) competitors were analyzed separately. Chi-squared tests were performed to investigate REA in medalists, and by weight categories and sexes. When the analyses used semesters to divide the period when the athletes were born, a RAE was found in male heavyweight athletes and male medallists. Thus, in a selected group of judo athletes who had participated at the highest competitive level, RAEs were present in both athletes who won Olympic medals and heavyweight athletes in the male group.