The effect of the athletes' origin and type of impairment on participation and the likelihood of winning a medal in the Paralympic Games.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether the origin (acquired or congenital) and type of impairment affect the participation and likelihood of winning a medal in different sports at the Paralympic Games. DESIGN: We analyzed competition data and athlete biographies web scraped from the International Paralympic Committee's website (www.Paralympic.org). RESULTS: In some sports, athletes with one origin or type of impairment were overrepresented. E.g., 76% of Para-snowboarders had an acquired impairment. Further, mixed-effects logistic regression analyses showed that the origin of impairment had no effect on the likelihood of winning a medal in most sports. However, athletes with a congenital impairment had a significantly higher likelihood of winning a medal compared to those with an acquired impairment in Para-athletics, Para-alpine skiing, and Para-biathlon (OR: 1.71, p < 0.01, OR: 3.69, p = 0.002, and OR: 3.70, p = 0.016, respectively). Athletes with a given origin-type of impairment combination also may have an advantage or disadvantage in some sports. E.g., athletes with an acquired spinal cord injury win proportionally fewer medals in Para-powerlifting. CONCLUSION: Understanding potential effects of the origin and type of impairment on participation and medaling chances in Paralympic sports can help shape the development of Para-sports, and support talent identification.

New insights from Norwegian and Swedish sports coaches' employment, practices, and beliefs during the first COVID-19 restriction period.

Introduction: This study (i) examined Norwegian and Swedish sports coaches' employment, practices, and beliefs during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, (ii) compared these aspects between coaches in Norway and Sweden, two countries with clearly different movement restrictions strategies in this period. Methods: An online survey was distributed to coaches via email and social media. The survey was open between June and August 2020. In total, 348 coaches responded, 141 from Norway, and 207 from Sweden. Results: Among responders, 2% had lost their job due to the pandemic, 17% had been furloughed, 28% worked from home office, and 39% worked as usual. Norwegian coaches were more likely to work from home (48% vs. 15%, p < .001), while Swedish coaches were more likely to work as usual (60% vs. 9%, p < .001). Coaches in both countries communicated less frequently with their athletes (p < .001) and had less in-person communication (p < .001) compared to pre-Covid levels. Larger declines existed among Norwegian coaches regarding communication frequency (p < .001) and in-person communication (p < .001). Video calls and phone calls usage increased (p < .001 and p = .009 respectively). We recorded low levels of concern among coaches about the effects of the pandemic on their relationship with their athletes. There were considerable levels of concern about athletes' maintaining their motivation to train (Norway: 43.3%, Sweden: 50.7%), and low levels of concern about the coaches' relationships with their athletes (Norway: 14.1%, Sweden: 17.8%). Discussion: Overall, this study showed the imposed movement restrictions had several negative consequences for the employment and work practices of sports coaches in Norway and Sweden. However, it also highlighted that coaches were able to adapt their work practices to the constraints and were able to maintain relationships with their athletes. The consequences raised in this paper can act as a guide during possible future lockdowns.

Performance and micro-pacing strategies in sit para-biathlon.

This study investigated micro-pacing strategies during sit para-biathlon. Six elite sit para-biathletes wore a positioning system device during the world-championships in three different competition formats (Sprint, Middle-distance, and Long-distance). Total Skiing Time (TST), penalty-time, shooting-time, and Total Race Time (TRT) were analysed. One-way analyses of variance were used to compare the relative contributions of TST, penalty-time, and shooting-time to TRT across the three race formats. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) was used to determine the course positions (clusters) where instantaneous skiing speed was significantly associated with TST. The contribution of TST to TRT was lower for the Long-distance (80 ± 6%) compared to the Sprint (86 ± 5%) and Middle-distance (86 ± 3%) races, however this difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The proportional contribution of penalty-time to TRT was significantly greater (p < 0.05) for the Long-distance (13 ± 6%) compared to the Sprint (5 ± 4%) and Middle-distance (4 ± 3%) races. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) revealed specific clusters where instantaneous skiing speed was significantly associated with TST. For example, over all laps during the Long-distance race, the fastest athlete gained 6.5 s over the slowest athlete in the section with the steepest uphill. Overall, these findings can provide insights into pacing strategies and help para-biathlon coaches and athletes optimise training programmes to improve performance.

Peak Age and Performance Trajectories in Para Powerlifters.

OBJECTIVE: This study established the age-related performance trajectories in Para powerlifters, thereby presenting valuable information for athlete development. DESIGN: Data on athlete date of birth, body mass, and weight lifted in competition were analyzed for 2079 athletes between 1994 and 2019. RESULTS: Age-related performance trajectories showed that men and women lift their heaviest weights in competition at 36 and 41 yrs of age, respectively. This correspond to the mean age of competitors in the heaviest bodyweight categories at elite competitions (men 36 yrs, women 43 yrs), who were older than competitors in lighter bodyweight categories. It is possible that para powerlifters "move up" bodyweight categories as they get older and before lifting their heaviest weights in competition. High-performing athletes lifted their heaviest weight in competition 2.6 yrs earlier than lower performing peers, and the best performances in most bodyweight categories were achieved by athletes between 31 and 35 yrs of age. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that para powerlifters should reach their peak performance in their early to mid-30s and before age-related changes to neural and hormonal processes impact muscular strength. This information can help coaches and athletes evaluate their strategies for achieving success in para powerlifting.

Case Report: Adjusting Seat and Backrest Angle Improves Performance in an Elite Paralympic Rower.

Paralympic rowers with functional impairments of the legs and trunk rely on appropriate seat configurations for performance. We compared performance, physiology, and biomechanics of an elite Paralympic rower competing in the PR1 class during ergometer rowing in a seat with three different seat and backrest inclination configurations. Unlike able-bodied rowers, PR1 rowers are required to use a seat with a backrest. For this study, we examined the following seat/backrest configurations: conA: 7.5°/25°, conB: 0°/25°, and conC: 0°/5° (usually used by the participant). All data was collected on a single day, i.e., in each configuration, one 4-min submaximal (100 W) and one maximal (all-out) stage was performed. The rowing ergometer provided the average power and (virtual) distance of each stage, while motion capture provided kinematic data, a load cell measured the force exerted on the ergometer chain, and an ergospirometer measured oxygen uptake ( V ˙ O 2 ). Where appropriate, a Friedman's test with post-hoc comparisons performed with Wilcoxon signed-ranked tests identified differences between the configurations. Despite similar distances covered during the submaximal intensity (conA: 793, conB: 793, conC: 787 m), the peak force was lower in conC (conA: 509, conB: 458, conC: 312 N) while the stroke rate (conA: 27 conB: 31, conC: 49 strokes·min-1) and V ˙ O 2 (conA: 34.4, conB: 35.4, conC: 39.6 mL·kg-1·min-1) were higher. During the maximal stage, the virtual distances were 7-9% longer in conA and conB, with higher peak forces (conA: 934 m, 408 N, conB: 918 m, 418 N, conC: 856 m, 331 N), and lower stroke rates (conA: 51, conB: 54, conC: 56 strokes·min-1), though there was no difference in V ˙ O 2 peak (~47 ml-1·kg-1·min-1). At both intensities, trunk range of motion was significantly larger in configurations conA and conB. Although fatigue may have accumulated during the test day, this study showed that a more inclined seat and backrest during ergometer rowing improved the performance of a successful Paralympic PR1 rower. The considerable increase in ergometer rowing performance in one of the top Paralympic rowers in the world is astonishing and highlights the importance of designing equipment that can be adjusted to match the individual needs of Paralympic athletes.

Changes in the Number of Medal Events, Sport Events, and Classes During the Paralympic Games: A Historical Overview.

PURPOSE: To chart how changes in the number of medal events relate to changes in the number of sport events and classes during the Paralympic Games (PG) between 1960 and 2018. METHODS: Web-scraping was used to extract information from the website of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) on all unique medal events, sport events, and classes per PG, which were then accumulated per sport to descriptively identify and further explore changes. RESULTS: The increased number of medal events during the early Summer Games (SG) (1960-1984: 113-975) and Winter Games (WG) (1976-1994: 55-113) was primarily due to an increased number of classes and sport events. While this suggested an increased sports participation among athletes with disabilities, it made the PG difficult to organize. A decrease in the number of medal events subsequently occurred during the SG (1984-1992: 975-489) and WG (1994-2006: 133-58). This was mainly achieved by reducing the number of sport events in the larger sports. Following this decline phase, the number of medal events and sport events has remained relatively stable for both editions of the PG, though this was achieved through different strategies. The WG employed the time-factor system for all individual sports, which enabled competitions across classes within sport events and thus, award a single gold medal (one medal event) for several classes. The SG have maintained the number of medal events despite a slight increase in classes (112-181). This was due to some sports combining classes in the same event, while others excluded certain classes from certain sport events. CONCLUSIONS: The number of medal events during each PG appear to be closely related to the number of sport events and, partially, to the number of classes. The stability in the number of medal events may indicate that a balance has been achieved, where there currently are enough classes and sport events to ensure fairness, while also maintaining a level of prestigiousness for winning a medal. However, it remains to be seen whether this stability will last or if the continued growth of the PG with more athletes and countries will warrant changes in the number of medal events.