2e:T559,

The aim of this study was to analyse lap performance stability, stroke kinematic variables in the clean swimming phase and turn performance in the finals of the four 200 m short course (SCM) events (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly). The sample included thirty-two elite female swimmers who competed in the 200 m finals at the 2019 LEN European Short Course Championships in Glasgow. Lap times, stroke kinematics, and turns were analysed using two approaches: (i) official lap time comparison (50 m), and; (ii) comparison of consecutive segments (25 m). Based on the official lap time comparison, performance significantly decreased over time (p < 0.001) with strong effect sizes in all strokes (η² between 0.89 and 0.96). Pairwise comparisons between consecutive 25 m segments were not significant. Turn time increased in all four strokes with strong effect sizes (p < 0.001; η² between 0.71 and 0.84). The start contributed ∼6% and turns ∼52% of the total race time. These findings highlight that traditional pacing analysis based on official splits may lead to misleading interpretations of performance in SCM events. Analysing 25 m segments provides a more accurate representation of race dynamics and contributes to a clearer understanding of pacing stability in short-course swimming.

2f:T51a,

In judged sports, such as rhythmic gymnastics, figure skating, and baton twirling, inter-judge variability in scoring—the degree to which judges differ in their scoring of the same athlete—is a common concern. This study quantitatively examined inter-judge variability using freestyle scores from the World Baton Twirling Championships held in 2018 and 2022. Data were collected from the preliminary rounds of senior and junior women's divisions, with scores assigned by seven judges. Welch's analyses of variance were performed to assess the effects of athlete ranking group (high, middle, low) on inter-judge variability across two scoring axes: technical merit (TM) and artistic expression (AE). These analyses were conducted separately for each competition year (2018 and 2022) and division (senior and junior). In the senior division in 2018, inter-judge variabilities for both TM and AE were significantly lower in the high-ranking group than in the other ranking groups. In the junior division in 2018, inter-judge variabilities for both TM and AE were significantly lower in the high-ranking group than in the low-ranking group. These findings are interpreted in terms of the interactions among the competitive structure of baton twirling and the cognitive processes involved in judging.

30:T43a,

This study analyzed post match data from the men's singles events at the 2025 Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon Championships to examine the relationship between match outcomes and technical performance across different court surfaces. Technical variables were compared between winners and losers using paired-samples t-tests, followed by exploratory binary logistic regression to identify key performance indicators. Surface-related differences in champions’ performance were examined descriptively across hard, clay, and grass courts. The results indicated that first serve points won and return points won were key predictors of match outcomes across all surfaces, with return points won showing predictive value specifically at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and break point conversion rate being predictive at the French Open. Championship players recorded a higher number of winners at the French Open compared with the Australian Open and Wimbledon, suggesting that surface-specific bounce characteristics may facilitate more aggressive offensive play.

31:T56d,