Women’s artistic gymnastics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games – Between prediction and reality (team and all-around finals)

Abstract

Introduction. The predictability of performance in artistic gymnastics is a topic of interest in sports science research, as competition results are influenced by a complex combination of technical, biomechanical, physiological, and psychological factors. By analyzing the scores obtained on different apparatus, the evolution of results over time, and the level of difficulty of routines, researchers and coaches can identify trends that allow for estimating gymnasts’ performance levels in future competitions.

Aim. The aim of this paper is to conduct an analysis comparing our predictions with the actual results achieved by athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in the Team and All-Around Finals. We also aim to highlight the importance of predictive analysis in major competitions, in order to guide athletes’ training in an efficient and targeted manner

Material and method. We analyzed the results achieved by gymnasts in the Team and All-Around Finals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and for each competition (Team Final and All-Around Final), we carried out a comparison between the predictions and the results obtained in the Olympic finals.

Results. The analysis of women’s artistic gymnastics competitions highlights the dynamic and unpredictable nature of both the Team and All-Around events. Differences in regulations between qualifications and finals significantly influence the results, with higher scores in qualifications being explained by the possibility of discarding a lower score. Comparing team performances shows that rankings are not consistently maintained across competition stages, emphasizing the importance of tactical adaptation and the management of competitive pressure in the final. The predictions made prior to the competition proved largely valid, confirming the essential role of statistical analysis and forecasting in optimizing performance.