AUTHOR=Pereira-Ferrero Vanessa Helena , Lewis Theodore Gyle , Ferrero Luciane Graziele Pereira , Duarte Leonardo Tomazeli 

TITLE=Complex Networks Models and Spectral Decomposition in the Analysis of Swimming Athletes’ Performance at Olympic Games

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2019

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2019.01134

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2019.01134

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=This study aims to present complex network models to analyze professional swimmers of 50 meters’ freestyle Olympic competitions, comparing characteristics and variables considered performance determinants. This comparative research, involve Olympics medalists versus non-medalists’ behavior. Using data from forty athletes with mean age, weight and height of 26 ± 2.9 years, 87 ± 5.59 Kg, 1.93 ± 3.85 cm, respectively, at the Olympics of 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 (16-year interval), we built two types of complex networks (graphs) for each edition, using mathematical correlations, metrics and the spectral decomposition analysis. It is possible to show that complex metrics behave differently between medalists and non-medalists. The spectral radius (SR) proved to be an important form of evaluation since in all 5 editions it was higher among medalists (SR results: 3.75; 3.5; 3.39; 2.91 and 3.66) compared to non-medalists (2.18; 2.51; 2.23; 2.07 and 2.04), with significantly differences between. This study introduces a remarkable tool in the evaluation of the performance of groups of swimming athletes by complex networks, and is interesting for athletes, coaches and even for amateurs, on how individual variables relate to competition results and are reflected in the spectral radius for the best performance. In addition, this method is general and may, in the future, be developed in the analysis of other competitive sports.