Competitive analysis of performance of strongest junior and senior cross-country skiers

ˑ: 

PhD N.B. Novikova1
I.G. Ivanova1
PhD N.B. Kotelevskaya1
PhD A.I. Golovachev2
1St. Petersburg Scientific Research Institute for Physical Culture, Saint-Petersburg
2Federal Science Center of Physical Culture and Sport (VNIIFK), Moscow

Objective of the study was to profile and analyze the dynamics of competitive progress of the national and foreign elite cross-country skiers in the international events in the youth and senior age.
Methods and structure of the study. The reports of the major 2005-2021 World Ski Championships, Olympic Winter Games, European Youth Olympic Festival and Youth Olympic Winter Games were analyzed, along with the statistical data analysis, and percentages, the data visualization was done using RSudio v. 3.6.3 and Microsoft Excel graphics.
Results and conclusion. We found that for the study period Russia and Norway junior cross-country skiers were virtually at par in youth competitions, whilst at the major international events and Olympic Games Norway was 2.4 times more successful than Russia in the men’s individual medal standings, and twice as likely to rank in the top-six. Most of the Russian leaders at the 2021 World Cup entered the national elite at the age of 17-18; although only two (0.56%) of them still compete in the World Cup events. The other study data and analyses show that the national long-term cross-country skiing training system has long been in need of improvements.

Keywords: long-term training system, cross-country skiers, competitions, age groups, Youth Olympic Games.

References

  1. Platonov V.N. Sistema podgotovki sportsmenov v olimpiyskom sporte. Obshchaya teoriya i ee prakticheskie prilozheniya [Training system in Olympic sports. General theory and its practical applications]. Textbook for physical education and sports university students. Moscow: Sovetskiy sport publ., 2005. 820 p.
  2. Platonov V.N., Bolshakova I.V. Forsirovanie mnogoletney podgotovki sportsmenov i yunosheskie olimpiyskie igry [Forcing long-term training of athletes and Youth Olympic Games]. Nauka v olimpiyskom sporte. 2013. No. 2. pp. 37–42.
  3. Federatsiya lyzhnykh gonok Rossii [Russian Ski Racing Federation]. [Electronic resource]. Available at: https://flgr-results.ru.
  4. Fédération Internationale de Ski, FIS [Electronic resource]. Available at: https://www.fis-ski.com/.