C O M P E T I T I O N   D E T A I L S

Introduction:

The primary aim of an elite rower is the Olympic Games. World Championships are held in the 3 years between Olympics. Each year, a 3 regatta World Cup series precedes the Championships, and the European Championships have featured intermittently at different times of year. There are 151 member Federations within FISA (the governing body). Rowing events fall into one of 2 main categories - sweep (1 oar per person) or scull (2 oars per person). There are also several Lightweight events where there is a limit on the average weight of the crew.

All international rowing takes place on a 2000m course with intermediate splits recorded each 500m. There are currently 14 Olympic boat classes (events included in the Olympic programme) although others exist as non-Olympic events (nations tend to put their top athletes in the Olympic events in preparation for the games). The time taken to complete 2000m varies widely between events. Rowing is significantly affected by environmental conditions (particularly the wind and water temperature), which makes comparisons between races and events difficult.

This data set includes all of the racing data from the World Championships/Olympics for the last 3 seasons (2015, 2016 [Olympic Games], 2017). The heats, repecharges through to various finals and intermediate split times are included. The FISA website (www.worldrowing.com) has a complete set of results (going back to 1896!)

The key information in this data set is the race profile (the way a crew delivers their final time through the four 500m segments of a race), and this is often viewed as percentages of the average race split (e.g for a 6:00.0 performance, the average 500m split would be 1:30.0, and a 500m split of 1:25.0 would equate to 106%). Race profiles are often described in 4 percentages e.g. 101% / 99% / 99% / 101% of average speed.

British Rowing is interested in an analysis of the race profiles from a boat class (types/changes in race profile over the regatta, key profile attributes of successful or unsuccessful crews) and Nation (trends/changes in race profile according to country).

Specific questions:

• How do race profiles change as crew's progress through the regatta?
• Does having to race the repecharge affect your chance of medalling in the final?
• What visuals best explain race profiles and allow comparisons between events, nations and specific crews?
• We are looking to see how you can best visually display your findings using SAS Viya and how interactive you can make your submission so it stands out from the crowd?

We already know the results so basic information relating to the medal table are not of interest. It is also very important to use percentages of race time rather than actual times due to the reasons mentioned above. Be aware that some crews will adjust their race profile if they are confident of safe passage through to the next round by either easing off in the latter part of the race, or doing enough to make sure they are in the places that qualify - however, this can have implications for a favourable lane draw (fastest qualifiers are allocated the advantageous middle lanes, or those best protected from the wind).