- New statistical analysis delves deep into over 120 years of Olympic history, examining the physical attributes of 222,500 Olympians.
- Winning male Olympians tend to be 25 years old, standing 1.81 meters tall, and weighing 77 kilograms.
- Female winners share a similar peak age of 25, with an average height of 1.7 meters and a weight of 61 kilograms.
- New statistical analysis identified the “ideal athlete” for each event based on the winners’ median age, height, and weight over the past 120 years.
Sprinters in the 100m, 200m, and 400m tend to peak at 23 years old, while marathon champions are typically around 29. Shot putters average 118kg, while discus throwers, known for their height advantage, reach an average of 1.91m. The analysis also suggests the average winning male athletic Olympian is 25 years old, stands at 1.81m, and weighs 77kg.
Men’s Average Winning Physical Characteristics in Athletics
|
Event |
Age |
Height (m) |
Weight (kg) |
|
100m |
23 |
1.77 |
72 |
|
200m |
23 |
1.79 |
72 |
|
400m |
23 |
1.80 |
72 |
|
800m |
24 |
1.79 |
68 |
|
1,500m |
24 |
1.78 |
65 |
|
5,000m |
25 |
1.75 |
62 |
|
10,000m |
26 |
1.73 |
60 |
|
Marathon |
29 |
1.72 |
60 |
|
3,000m Steeplechase |
26 |
1.76 |
64 |
|
110m Hurdles |
24 |
1.85 |
77 |
|
400m Hurdles |
24 |
1.83 |
74 |
|
High Jump |
23 |
1.88 |
75 |
|
Pole Vault |
25 |
1.83 |
76 |
|
Long Jump |
24 |
1.82 |
74 |
|
Triple Jump |
25 |
1.83 |
75 |
|
Shot Put |
26 |
1.90 |
118 |
|
Discus Throw |
27 |
1.91 |
110 |
|
Hammer Throw |
27 |
1.86 |
106 |
|
Javelin Throw |
25 |
1.85 |
91 |
|
Decathlon |
25 |
1.86 |
84 |
|
20km Race Walk |
27 |
1.76 |
65 |
|
4 x 100m Relay |
24 |
1.78 |
72 |
|
4 x 400m Relay |
24 |
1.80 |
72 |
|
AVERAGE |
25 |
1.81 |
77 |
This profile of the “ideal physique” aligns with recent Olympic champions. For instance, Canadian decathlon gold medallist Damien Warner at Tokyo 2020 stands at 1.84m and weighs 83kg, closely resembling the average build identified in the research. Similarly, Italian racewalker Massimo Stano, who secured gold at 29 years old in the 20km walk at the last Olympics, has a height of 1.76m and weighs 66kg.
Like their male counterparts, female athletic winners tend to peak around 25 years old. On average, they stand at 1.7m tall and weigh 61kg. However, there are variations across disciplines. For instance, 100-meter champions typically skew younger, averaging around 22 years old, while relay team members may be slightly older, ranging from 23 to 24. Events requiring explosive power, like hurdles, see competitors averaging between 58 and 60 kg. Meanwhile, triple jumpers tend to be taller, with an average height of 1.74m.
Women’s Average Winning Physical Characteristics in Athletics
|
Event |
Age |
Height (m) |
Weight (kg) |
|
100m |
22 |
1.66 |
57 |
|
200m |
23 |
1.68 |
58 |
|
400m |
24 |
1.70 |
58 |
|
800m |
24 |
1.68 |
55 |
|
1,500m |
25 |
1.66 |
53 |
|
5,000m |
26 |
1.64 |
50 |
|
10,000m |
26 |
1.63 |
49 |
|
Marathon |
30 |
1.63 |
49 |
|
3,000m Steeplechase |
26 |
1.67 |
52 |
|
110m Hurdles |
25 |
1.70 |
60 |
|
400m Hurdles |
25 |
1.71 |
58 |
|
High Jump |
23 |
1.78 |
61 |
|
Pole Vault |
26 |
1.71 |
60 |
|
Long Jump |
24 |
1.71 |
60 |
|
Triple Jump |
26 |
1.74 |
61 |
|
Shot Put |
25 |
1.77 |
90 |
|
Discus Throw |
26 |
1.78 |
84 |
|
Hammer Throw |
25 |
1.75 |
84 |
|
Javelin Throw |
25 |
1.73 |
70 |
|
Heptathlon |
25 |
1.75 |
65 |
|
20km Race Walk |
27 |
1.64 |
52 |
|
4 x 100m Relay |
23 |
1.67 |
58 |
|
4 x 400m Relay |
24 |
1.70 |
58 |
|
AVERAGE |
25 |
1.70 |
61 |
These characteristics closely mirror those of the Tokyo 2020 gold medallists, where Elaine Thompson-Herah weighed 56kg and stood at 1.68m—walking away with a 100m Gold Medal for Jamaica. This is similar to American Katie Moon, measuring 1.73m and 61kg, who won gold in the pole vault, and Germany’s Malaika Mihambo, measuring 58kg and 1.71m, who won gold in the long jump at the last Olympics.
Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson for JeffBet said:
“The world now sets its sights on the upcoming Olympics, with nations eagerly waiting to see which athletes will emerge victorious for their countries. Many argue that raw talent, rigorous training, and an unyielding spirit define an Olympic victor. After all, the Games have a rich history of underdogs who defied expectations and etched their names in Olympic glory.
However, analyzing past champions goes beyond averages. By pinpointing physical attributes that prevail in each sport, nations can identify promising athletes who fit that mold and provide them with targeted training. While it’s no crystal ball, this data could be a secret weapon for some Olympic teams.”
For more information, visit https://www.jeffbet.com/