Competitive effectiveness in 50 km skiing marathon at winter Olympic Games and World Championships during the whole period of their organization (since 1924 till 2019)
The research is dedicated to “record” results analysis among the winners of the competitions in 50 km skiing marathon at the Olympic Games (WOG) and World Championships (WCh) during the whole period of their organization (since 1924 till 2019). The main objectives of the research are connected with a long-term dynamics study of sports-technical results in elite racing skiers at 50 km distance with classical and free style, the winners’ age-related characteristics estimation and rating and competitive estimation of the countries, which participated in skiing marathon at the Olympic Games and World Championships. Research methods. Information sources analysis and summarizing, the dynamics of sports-technical results analysis and estimation among elite racing skiers, the winners of the OG and WCh at 50 km marathon distance with classical and free style and also their age-related characteristics and a ranking competitive estimation of the countries-participants; method of mathematical statistics. Results. The main results of the research are the following: we revealed the increasing dynamics of the amount of the countries, which participated in WOG in skiing marathon: I WOG (1924) - 8 countries, XIII WOG (1976г) -14, XXIII WOG (2018г) - 27; we made a ranking estimation according to the amount of medals, won by the athletes at WCh and WOG at 50 km distance during the period since 1924 till 2019: Sweden - 62 medals (among them 26 gold medals); Norway - 49 medals (among them 20 gold medals); Finland - 47 medals (among them 15 gold medals); Russia - 27 medals (among them 5 gold medals); we revealed general increasing tendency of a long-term dynamics of competitive speeds, shown in classical and skating styles, among the winners of the marathon: specified rate of the annual speed increase in classical style at WOG is 0,042 m/s (0,59%), at WCh - 0,036 m/s (0,54%), in free style at WOG is 0,044 m/s (0,58%), at WCh - 0,031 m/s (0,42%); we defined age-related characteristics of racing skiers, who form the elite of this discipline. During the period since 1924 till 2019 (“era” of wooden skis use) the average age of the winners at 50 km distance was 29±1,6 years old (V - 5,5%), during the period since 1976г till 2018 - 26,9±2,6 years old (V - 10,1%). Conclusion. The research results help to predict the development of marathon Olympic distance and define the tendency in the existing training methods development for the nearest future.