Julien Francois

Mathematics Internal Assessment

To what extent does the BMI (Body Mass Index) of triathletes affect their performance at the
annual ITU World Triathlon Series?
 Julien Francois

Mathematics Internal Assessment

- Introduction :
Triathlon is a multi-sport race that consists of three different disciplines, swimming, cycling and
running. There are multiple distances in the triathlon domain that ranges from the smallest
distances, 500m swim; 25km cycling and 5km run to the longest and toughest distances, 3.8km
swim; 180km cycling and 42km run. Triathlon has grown to be one of the biggest competitions in
our society due to its internationality. The ITU World Triathlon Series is a well-known triathlon
league, with 81 elite male athletes and 79 elite woman athletes, that takes place in various cities all
around the world : Abu Dhabi, Bermuda, Yokohama, Leeds/ Nottingham, Montreal, Hamburg,
Edmonton & Lausanne.

Having done triathlon since a young age, I always wondered why there is such a colossal gap, in
terms of performance, between elite athletes compared to the average practitioners and wether it
was due to the influence of height and weight. Triathlon is a sport that requires a lot of endurance,
strength, mentality and certainly speed. However, the sports of swimming, cycling and running have
such different demands on the body but they all require endurance. Most of the elite long distance
cyclists, runners and swimmers are very light weight and have very minimal BMI’s (Body Mass
Index). BMI is strongly correlated with weight and is dependent of height. BMI also captures the
relationship between weight and height.

Therefore, during this investigation I will examine/ compare :

- The difference of BMI between triathletes from rankings 1 to 81 (male) and 79 (female).
- The BMI’s between males and females in the competition.
- The ages of the first, through out the last, elite athletes in the competition.

- Statement of task :
The main principle of this research was to investigate wether or not there is a relationship between
the Body Mass Index (BMI) and the league rankings of the elite triathletes in the ITU World
Triathlon Series.

All of the data (mostly height of athletes) collected for this investigation, was found in an archive
on the main website of ITU World Triathlon Series. However, the height as well as the weight of a
majority of triathletes was not always easy and sometimes impossible to find on the internet.
Therefore, social media was also one of the main sources used to find information on some
triathletes where the weight and height was unknown. This was done by contacting the athletes on
their instagram accounts and sending a message justifying the purpose of this investigation and
what importance do their weight and height bring to my investigation. A total of 24 elite triathletes
were contacted on instagram and all of them kindly replied with the information needed.

Below are the steps that I used to contact all of elite triathletes on social media :
 Julien Francois

Step 3 : Wait for the athletes to reply. If

Step 1 : Try every way to contact the Step 2 : Message the athletes privately they don’t reply, try asking other
athletes. The most effective way is by and send them a message explaining the athletes, who already responded, to
commenting on their most recent post. aim and purpose of your project? know if they could contact the ones that
did not answer

Step 4 : You can also try getting

information on athletes that did not
respond to you, by contacting other
athletes.
 Julien Francois
- Plan of investigation :
In order to observe any visible correlation produced from the data table between the proportions and
the rankings of the triathletes, I will eventually have to plot all of my results on a scatter plot. This
graph, will help me assess and determine wether or not there is a positive trend or any relationship
with the data presented. I will then effectuate a Pearson Correlation Coefficient test to evaluate the
strength of the trend line and correlation of the data. To know wether the data of the calculated r
value is positive or negative, the positive value is found from 0 throughout 1 and the negative value
is found from 0 throughout -1. If the r is close to 1 or -1, it implies that there is a strong correlation,
however, the closest it is to the 0 value the weaker and lower the correlation is. If it lies on 0, then
there is no possible and apparent correlation.

- Data Collection :

GDP of
MALE WEIGHT HEIGHT country
COUNTRY AGE RANKING BMI
TRIATHLETES (kg) (m) in 2018
($)
Mario MOLA Spain 29 62 1.78 1 30,380 19.6
Vincent LUIS France 30 65 1.77 2 42,878 20.7
Jacob
Australia 24 68 1.83 3 56,352 20.3
BIRTHWHISTLE
Richard South
30 70 1.80 4 6,271 21.6
MURRAY Africa
Kristian
Norway 25 77 1.74 5 81,771 25.4
BLUMMENFELT
Fernando
Spain 28 67 1.78 6 30,380 21.1
ALARZA
Henri South
27 70 1.80 7 6,271 21.6
SCHOEMAN Africa
Pierre LE CORRE France 29 65 1.77 8 42,878 20.7
Tyler
Canada 25 59 1.72 9 43,045 19.9
MISLAWCHUK
Marten VAN
Belgium 27 65 1.83 10 46,518 19.4
RIEL
Jonathan United
29 70 1.81 11 42,506 21.4
BROWNLEE Kingdom
New
Sam WARD 24 67 1.87 12 42,249 19.2
Zealand
Dorian CONINX France 25 70 1.81 13 42,878 21.4
Andreas
Denmark 28 70 1.85 14 62,888 20.5
SCHILLING
Joao SILVA Portugal 30 60 1.71 15 23,153 20.5
Casper STORNES Norway 22 67 1.82 16 81,771 20.2
Aaron ROYLE Australia 29 67 1.80 17 56,352 20.7
 Julien Francois

Alois KNABL Austria 27 60 1.80 18 51,559 18.5

United
Thomas BISHOP 28 60 1.70 19 42,506 20.8
Kingdom
Leo BERGERE France 23 66 1.77 20 42,878 21.1
Simon VIAIN France 23 60 1.75 21 42,878 19.6
Ryan BAILIE Australia 29 60 1.76 22 56,352 19.4
Bence BICSAK Hungary 23 54 1.73 23 15,946 18
Gustav IDEN Norway 23 66 1.77 24 81,771 21.1
Luke WILLIAN Australia 22 70 1.84 25 56,352 20.7
Jelle GEENS Belgium 26 61 1.72 26 46,518 20.6
Crisanto
Mexico 32 60 1.66 27 9,806 21.8
GRAJALES
Matthew
Canada 28 76 1.90 28 43,045 21.1
SHARPE
Rostislav
Azerbaijan 32 74 1.87 29 4,780 21.7
PEVTSOV
ELI HEMMING USA 24 65 1.75 30 55,681 21.2
Antonio SERRAT
Spain 24 64 1.76 31 30,380 20.7
SEOANE
Rodrigo
Mexico 29 69 1.80 32 9,806 21.3
GONZALEZ
Joao PEREIRA Portugal 31 73 1.86 33 23,153 21.1
Richard VARGA Slovakia 30 65 1.88 34 19,547 18.4
Matthew
USA 27 67 1.83 35 55,681 20
McELROY
Andrea Switzerland 30 74 1.79 36 82,504 23.1
SALVISBERG
Shachar SAGIV Israel 24 68 1.82 37 41,654 20.5
Gábor FALDUM Hungary 31 65 1.72 38 15,946 22
Irving PEREZ Mexico 33 64 1.75 39 9,806 20.9
Justus
Germany 27 77 1.84 40 47,615 22.7
NEISCHLAG
Marco VAN DER Netherlands 26 65 1.76 41 49,760 21
STEL
Sylvain Switzerland 24 67 1.80 42 82,504 20.7
FRIDELANCE
Lukas HOLLAUS Austria 32 76 1.84 43 51,559 22.4
Alessandro
Italy 31 75 1.86 44 35,391 21.7
FABIAN
Tamás TÓTH Hungary 30 65 1.75 45 15,946 21.2
Vicente
Spain 28 73 1.81 46 30,380 22.3
HERNANDEZ
 Julien Francois

Adrien BRIFFOD Switzerland 25 63 1.79 47 82,504 19.7

Lasse LÜHRS Germany 23 65 1.80 48 47,615 20.1
Kevin
USA 27 66 1.83 49 55,681 19.7
McDOWELL
Dmitry
Russia 32 68 1.82 50 11,288 20.5
POLYANSKIY
Uxio ABUIN
Spain 28 68 1.80 51 30,380 21
ARES
New
Ryan SISSONS 31 61 1.75 52 42,249 19.9
Zealand
Russel WHITE Irland 27 68 1.87 53 78,750 19.4
Morgan
USA 26 72 1.83 54 55,681 21.5
PEARSON
Ryan FISHER Australia 28 65 1.78 55 56,352 20.5
Igor
Russia 29 72 1.91 56 11,288 19.7
POLYANSKIY
Jumpei FURUYA Japan 28 65 1.74 57 48,919 21.5
Ben KANUTE USA 26 70 1.83 58 55,681 20.9
New
Tayler REID 22 69 1.83 59 42,249 20.6
Zealand
United
Marc AUSTIN 25 70 1.86 60 42,506 20.2
Kingdom
Jonas
Germany 25 69 1.90 61 47,615 19.1
SCHOMBURG
United
Grant SHELDON 24 58 1.72 62 42,506 21
Kingdom
Makoto
Japan 26 57 1.64 63 48,919 21.2
ODAKURA
Matthew
Australia 20 82 1.86 64 56,352 23.7
HAUSER
New
Hayden WILDE 21 66 1.75 65 42,249 21.6
Zealand
Seth RIDER USA 22 63 1.83 66 55,681 18.8
Bob HALLER Luxembourg 26 74 1.88 67 113,192 20.9
Itamar ALSTER Israel 24 65 1.76 68 41,654 21
Gregor PAYET Luxembourg 24 73 1.86 69 113,192 21.1
Tony USA 25 70 1.75 70 55,681 22.9
SMORAGIEWICZ
Ognjen
Serbia 29 68 1.83 71 7,200 20.3
STOJANOVIC
Charles PAQUET Canada 22 71 1.74 72 43,045 23.5
Domen DORNIK Slovenia 27 76 1.75 73 26,234 24.8
Jason WILSON Barbados 28 68 1.80 74 17,949 21
 Julien Francois
Wian South
21 70 1.85 75 6,271 20.5
SULLWALD Africa
Maximilian
Germany 28 72 1.83 76 47,615 21.5
SCHWETZ
Lukas PERTL Austria 24 63 1.79 77 51,559 19.7
Cristophe DE
Belgium 26 71 1.83 78 46,518 21.2
KEYSER
Shogo
Japan 29 66 1.73 79 48,919 22.1
ISHITSUKA
Yuichi HOSODA Japan 34 65 1.75 80 48,919 21.2
Ilya Prasolov Russia 32 74 1.82 81 11,288 22.3

GDP of
FEMALE WEIGHT HEIGHT country
COUNTRY AGE RANKING BMI
TRIATHLETES (kg) (m) ($) in
2018
United
Vicky HOLLAND 33 59 1.68 1 42,506 20.9
Kingdom
Katier ZAFARES USA 30 58 1.73 2 55,681 19.4
Georgia TAYLOR- United
25 55 1.62 3 42,506 21
BROWN Kingdom
Kirsten KASPER USA 28 63 1.73 4 55,681 21
Jessica United
31 57 1.68 5 42,506 20.2
LEARMONTH Kingdom
Ashleigh GENTLE Australia 28 52 1.70 6 56,352 18
United
Jodie STIMPSON 30 58 1.70 7 42,506 20.1
Kingdom
Taylor SPIVEY USA 28 50 1.60 8 55,681 19.5
Laura
Germany 23 57 1.68 9 47,615 20.2
LINDEMANN
Rachel KLAMER Netherland 29 50 1.66 10 49,760 18.1
Natalie VAN
Australia 26 57 1.72 11 56,352 19.3
COEVORDEN
Yuko
Japan 27 54 1.65 12 48,919 19.8
TAKAHASHI
Flora DUFFY Bermuda 31 58 1.64 13 99,316 21.6
Yuka SATO Japan 27 56 1.71 14 48,919 19.2
United
Non STANFORD 30 55 1.70 15 42,506 19
Kingdom
Leonie PERIAULT France 25 51 1.67 16 42,878 18.3
Lotte MILLER Norway 23 66 1.77 17 81,771 21.1
Joanna BROWN Canada 26 61 1.78 18 43,045 19.3
Claire MICHEL Belgium 31 53 1.68 19 46,518 18.8
 Julien Francois
New
Andrea HEWITT 37 52 1.60 20 42,249 20.3
Zealand
Melanie SANTOS Portugal 24 52 1.69 21 23,153 18.2
Chelsea BURNS USA 29 59 1.67 22 55,681 21.2
Vendula
Czechia 35 50 1.68 23 37,370 17.7
FRINTOVA
Alice BETTO Italy 31 56 1.70 24 35,391 19.4
Summer COOK USA 28 59 1.73 25 55,681 19.7
Cassandre
France 22 64 1.77 26 42,878 20.4
BEAUGRAND
Nicola SPIRIG Switzerland 37 53 1.66 27 82,504 19.2
Lisa PERTERER Austria 27 52 1.66 28 51,559 18.9
Ai UEDA Japan 35 44 1.55 29 48,919 18.3
Taylor KNIBB USA 21 51 1.58 30 55,681 20.4
Juri IDE Japan 36 50 1.58 31 48,919 20
Charlotte
Australia 29 46 1.59 32 56,352 18.2
McSHANE
New
Rebecca SPENCE 30 75 1.79 33 42,249 23.4
Zealand
Gillian
Australia 28 63 1.78 34 56,352 19.9
BACKHOUSE
Sophie United
24 58 1.67 35 42,506 20.8
COLDWELL Kingdom
Julia HAUSER Austria 25 49 1.64 36 51,559 18.2
Verena
Italy 24 70 1.70 37 35,391 24.2
STEINHAUSER
Emma JEFFCOAT Australia 24 67 1.75 38 56,352 21.9
Maya KINGMA Netherland 24 60 1.70 39 49,760 20.8
Vittoria LOPES Brazil 23 63 1.78 40 8,959 19.9
Nicole VAN DER New
23 57 1.71 41 42,249 19.5
KAAY Zealand
Elena DANILOVA Russia 28 48 1.61 42 11,288 18.5
Zsanett
Hungary 25 53 1.62 43 15,946 20.2
BRAGMAYER
Mathilde
France 23 60 1.73 44 42,878 20
GAUTIER
Sandra DODET France 22 50 1.54 45 42,878 21.1
Claudia RIVAS Mexico 30 58 1.71 46 9,806 19.8
Kirsten NUYES Netherland 21 48 1.66 47 49,760 17.4
Luisa BAPTISTA Brasil 25 53 1.70 48 8,959 18.3
Valerie
Belgium 28 57 1.74 49 46,518 18.8
BARTHELEMY
 Julien Francois
Carolina
Spain 29 60 1.72 50 30,380 20.3
ROUTIER
Therese
Austria 21 57 1.78 51 51,559 18
FEUERSINGER
Romana
Slovakia 25 57 1.73 52 19,547 19
GAJDOSOVA
Sara VILIC Austria 27 56 1.70 53 51,559 19.4
Anastasia
Russia 29 51 1.64 54 11,288 19
ABROSIMOVA
Sophie CHASE USA 24 58 1.70 55 55,681 20.1
Amelie KRETZ Canada 26 53 1.68 56 43,045 18.8
Angelica OLMO Italy 23 56 1.65 57 35,391 20.6
Kelly-Ann
Austria 26 63 1.60 58 51,559 24.6
PERKINS
Zsofia KOVACS Hungary 31 60 1.80 59 15,946 18.5
Minami KUBONO Japan 22 53 1.62 60 48,919 20.2
Sophia SALLER Germany 25 55 1.72 61 47,615 18.6
Cecilia PEREZ Mexico 27 59 1.65 62 9,806 21.7
Desirae
Canada 19 57 1.67 63 43,045 20.4
RIDENOUR
Julie DERRON Switzerland 22 57 1.69 64 82,504 20
Anastasia
Russia 25 59 1.75 65 11,288 19.3
GORBUNOVA
Petra KURIKOVA Czechia 27 53 1.70 66 37,370 18.3
Mengying
China 29 56 1.71 67 10,200 19.2
ZHONG
Tamara GORMAN USA 23 57 1.65 68 55,681 20.7
Fuka SEGA Japan 20 49 1.61 69 48,919 18.9
Barbara RIVEROS Chile 32 47 1.57 70 15,828 19.1
Lisa BERGER Switzerland 26 55 1.68 71 82,504 19.5
Annamaria
Italy 31 51 1.61 72 35,391 19.7
MAZZETTI
South
Gillian SANDERS 37 53 1.69 73 6,271 18.6
Africa
Sara PEREZ
Spain 31 65 1.70 74 30,380 22.5
SALA
New
Deborah LYNCH 27 47 1.58 75 42,249 18.8
Zealand
Bianca BOGEN Germany 20 58 1.73 76 47,615 19.4
Anna GODOY
Spain 26 49 1.61 77 30,380 18.9
CONTRERAS
Kseniia
Azerbaijan 29 55 1.71 78 4,780 18.8
LEVKOVSKA
 Julien Francois

Emilie MORIER France 22 54 1.69 79 42,878 18.9

= Triathletes contacted to have information on their height and weight

= Normal/Healthy

= Overweight

= Underweight

This table above shows the country and its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), age, ranking, weight
and height of every elite male and female triathlete. I will be analysing specifically the athletes that
participated and competed in the annual ITU World Triathlon Series in 2018. The most difficult part
of this investigation was the process of gathering data on each athlete. It was difficult to find the
weight and height of most triathletes due to the fact that I was unable to find the information online.
On the other hand, with the use of various social media platforms, I was able to contact the athletes
that I didn’t find information on via instagram by asking them for their weight and height. After
sending numerous texts to each of the athletes, I was successful in getting the information I needed
to complete my IA.

- Analysis :
Figure 1: Scatter plot showing BMI (Body Mass Index) in relation to the rankings of every elite
male triathletes

Body Mass Index in relation to the rankings of male triathletes

30

25

20
Body Mass Index

15

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Rankings
 Julien Francois
Figure 1 shows the Body Mass Index of every elite male triathletes in regards to their rankings. As
seen on the graph, there is a strong (slightly positive) correlation.

Average Body Mass Index of every (81) elite male triathletes (mean) :

(19.6+20.7+20.3+21.6+25.4+21.1+21.6+20.7+19.9+19.4+21.4+20.5+20.5+20.2+20.7+18.5+20.8+
21.1+19.6+19.4+18+21.1+20.7+20.6+21.8+21.1+21.7+21.2+20.7+21.3+21.1+18.4+20+23.1+20.5+
22+20.9+22.7+21+20.7+22.4+21.7+21.2+22.3+19.7+20.1+19.7+20.5+21+19.9+19.4+21.5+20.5+1
9.7+21.5+20.9+20.6+20.2+19.1+21+21.2+23.7+21.6+18.8+20.9+21+21.1+22.9+20.3+23.5+24.8+2
1+20.5+21.5+19.7+21.2+22.1+21.2+22.3) /81 = 21.11612

Average Body Mass Index of :

- Normal American male = 28.6

- (28.6 - 21.1) = 7.5 difference between average BMI of elite male triathletes

- Normal French male = 25.5

- (25.5 - 21.1) = 4.4 difference between average BMI of elite male triathletes

Pearson Correlation Coefficient in relation to Figure 1

The Person’s Correlation Coefficient is the test statistics that measures the statistical relationship
between two continuous variables, (statisticsolutions, 2019). In this case, the two continuous
variables are x (ranking of the male triathletes) and y (Body Mass Index of the male triathletes).

The following formula of the Person’s Correlation Coefficient is as follows :

x y x - x̄ (x - x̄ )2 y-ȳ (y - ȳ)2 (x - x̄ )(y - ȳ)

1 19.6 -40.000 1600.000 -1.319 1.738 52.741
2 20.7 -39.000 1521.000 -0.219 0.048 8.522
3 20.3 -38.000 1444.000 -0.619 0.383 23.504
4 21.6 -37.000 1369.000 0.681 0.464 -25.215
5 25.4 -36.000 1296.000 4.481 20.084 -161.333
6 21.1 -35.000 1225.000 0.181 0.033 -6.352
7 21.6 -34.000 1156.000 0.681 0.464 -23.170
8 20.7 -33.000 1089.000 -0.219 0.048 7.211
 Julien Francois

x y x - x̄ (x - x̄ )2 y-ȳ (y - ȳ)2 (x - x̄ )(y - ȳ)

9 19.9 -32.000 1024.000 -1.019 1.037 32.593
10 19.4 -31.000 961.000 -1.519 2.306 47.074
11 21.4 -30.000 900.000 0.481 0.232 -14.444
12 19.2 -29.000 841.000 -1.719 2.953 49.837
13 21.4 -28.000 784.000 0.481 0.232 -13.481
14 20.5 -27.000 729.000 -0.419 0.175 11.300
15 20.5 -26.000 676.000 -0.419 0.175 10.881
16 20.2 -25.000 625.000 -0.719 0.516 17.963
17 20.7 -24.000 576.000 -0.219 0.048 5.244
18 18.5 -23.000 529.000 -2.419 5.849 55.626
19 20.8 -22.000 484.000 -0.119 0.014 2.607
20 21.1 -21.000 441.000 0.181 0.033 -3.811
21 19.6 -20.000 400.000 -1.319 1.738 26.370
22 19.4 -19.000 361.000 -1.519 2.306 28.852
23 18 -18.000 324.000 -2.919 8.518 52.533
24 21.1 -17.000 289.000 0.181 0.033 -3.085
25 20.7 -16.000 256.000 -0.219 0.048 3.496
26 20.6 -15.000 225.000 -0.319 0.101 4.778
27 21.8 -14.000 196.000 0.881 0.777 -12.341
28 21.1 -13.000 169.000 0.181 0.033 -2.359
29 21.7 -12.000 144.000 0.781 0.611 -9.378
30 21.2 -11.000 121.000 0.281 0.079 -3.096
31 20.7 -10.000 100.000 -0.219 0.048 2.185
32 21.3 -9.000 81.000 0.381 0.146 -3.433
33 21.1 -8.000 64.000 0.181 0.033 -1.452
34 18.4 -7.000 49.000 -2.519 6.343 17.630
35 20 -6.000 36.000 -0.919 0.844 5.511
36 23.1 -5.000 25.000 2.181 4.759 -10.907
37 20.5 -4.000 16.000 -0.419 0.175 1.674
38 22 -3.000 9.000 1.081 1.170 -3.244
 Julien Francois

x y x - x̄ (x - x̄ )2 y-ȳ (y - ȳ)2 (x - x̄ )(y - ȳ)

39 20.9 -2.000 4.000 -0.019 0.000 0.037
40 22.7 -1.000 1.000 1.781 3.174 -1.781
41 21 0.000 0.000 0.081 0.007 0.000
42 20.7 1.000 1.000 -0.219 0.048 -0.219
43 22.4 2.000 4.000 1.481 2.195 2.963
44 21.7 3.000 9.000 0.781 0.611 2.344
45 21.2 4.000 16.000 0.281 0.079 1.126
46 22.3 5.000 25.000 1.381 1.908 6.907
47 19.7 6.000 36.000 -1.219 1.485 -7.311
48 20.1 7.000 49.000 -0.819 0.670 -5.730
49 19.7 8.000 64.000 -1.219 1.485 -9.748
50 20.5 9.000 81.000 -0.419 0.175 -3.767
51 21 10.000 100.000 0.081 0.007 0.815
52 19.9 11.000 121.000 -1.019 1.037 -11.204
53 19.4 12.000 144.000 -1.519 2.306 -18.222
54 21.5 13.000 169.000 0.581 0.338 7.559
55 20.5 14.000 196.000 -0.419 0.175 -5.859
56 19.7 15.000 225.000 -1.219 1.485 -18.278
57 21.5 16.000 256.000 0.581 0.338 9.304
58 20.9 17.000 289.000 -0.019 0.000 -0.315
59 20.6 18.000 324.000 -0.319 0.101 -5.733
60 20.2 19.000 361.000 -0.719 0.516 -13.652
61 19.1 20.000 400.000 -1.819 3.307 -36.370
62 21 21.000 441.000 0.081 0.007 1.711
63 21.2 22.000 484.000 0.281 0.079 6.193
64 23.7 23.000 529.000 2.781 7.737 63.974
65 21.6 24.000 576.000 0.681 0.464 16.356
66 18.8 25.000 625.000 -2.119 4.488 -52.963
67 20.9 26.000 676.000 -0.019 0.000 -0.481
68 21 27.000 729.000 0.081 0.007 2.200
 Julien Francois

x y x - x̄ (x - x̄ )2 y-ȳ (y - ȳ)2 (x - x̄ )(y - ȳ)

69 21.1 28.000 784.000 0.181 0.033 5.081
70 22.9 29.000 841.000 1.981 3.926 57.463
71 20.3 30.000 900.000 -0.619 0.383 -18.556
72 23.5 31.000 961.000 2.581 6.664 80.026
73 24.8 32.000 1024.000 3.881 15.066 124.207
74 21 33.000 1089.000 0.081 0.007 2.689
75 20.5 34.000 1156.000 -0.419 0.175 -14.230
76 21.5 35.000 1225.000 0.581 0.338 20.352
77 19.7 36.000 1296.000 -1.219 1.485 -43.867
78 21.2 37.000 1369.000 0.281 0.079 10.415
79 22.1 38.000 1444.000 1.181 1.396 44.896
80 21.2 39.000 1521.000 0.281 0.079 10.978
81 22.3 40.000 1600.000 1.381 1.908 55.259
Σ= Σ= Σ=
Σ = 3321 Σ = 1694.4 Σ = 0.00 Σ = 0.00
44280.000 130.362 435.600
x̄ = 41 ȳ = 20.919

Working :

- x Values : - y Values :

- Σ = 3321 - Σ = 1694.4
- x̄ = 41 - x̄ = 20.919
- Σ(x - x̄ )2 = 44280 - Σ(y - ȳ)2 = 130.362

- x and y Values combined :

- Σ(x - x̄ )(y - ȳ) = 435.6

- r Calculation :

- 435.6 / √((44280)(130.362)) = 0.1813

- r = 0.1813

As we can see from the r-value above, the data collected : 0.1813, corresponds to a positive
correlation, however the relationship between variables is weak. This is because the nearer the value
 Julien Francois
calculated is to zero, the weaker the relationship is. Although, there is a positive correlation in the
data collected, the relationship is fairly weak. Therefore, this implies that the BMI of the male
triathletes does not play a major and important role to their rankings.

Figure 2: Scatter plot showing BMI (Body Mass Index) in relation to the rankings of every elite
female triathletes

Body Mass Index in relation to the rankings of female triathletes

30

25

20
Body Mass Index

15

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Rankings

Average Body Mass Index of every (79) elite female triathletes (mean) :

(20.9+19.4+21+21+20.2+18+20.1+19.5+20.2+18.1+19.3+19.8+21.6+19.2+19+18.3+21.1+19.3+
18.8+20.3+18.2+21.2+17.7+19.4+19.7+20.4+19.2+18.9+18.3+20.4+20+18.2+23.4+19.9+20.8+18.
2+24.2+21.9+20.8+19.9+19.5+18.5+20.2+20+21.1+19.8+17.4+18.3+18.8+20.3+18+19+19.4+19+
20.1+18.8+20.6+24.6+18.5+20.2+18.6+21.7+20.4+20+19.3+18.3+19.2+20.7+18.9+19.1+19.5+19.
7+18.6+22.5+18.6+22.5+18.8+19.4+18.9+18.8+18.9) / 79
= 19.73670

Average Body Mass Index of :

- Normal American female = 26.5

- (26.5 - 19.7) = 6.8 difference between average BMI of elite female triathletes

- Normal French female = 23.2

- (23.2 - 19.7) = 3.5 difference between average BMI of elite female triathletes

Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient (figure 2) :

This data was calculated using an online website (socscistatistics.com) where the x value (rankings
of female triathletes) and the y value (BMI of female triathletes) were placed and digitally solved in
a table.
 Julien Francois

- x Values : - y Values :

- Σ = 3160 - Σ = 1559.2
- x̄ = 40 - x̄ = 19.737
- Σ(x - x̄ )2 = 41080 - Σ(y - ȳ)2 = 144.904

- x and y Values combined :

- Σ(x - x̄ )(y - ȳ) = -134.2

- r Calculation :

- 134.2 / √((41080)(144.904)) = -0.055

- r = -0.055

As we can see from the r-value above, the data collected : -0.055, corresponds to a negative
correlation, however the relationship between variables is weak. This is because the nearer the value
calculated is to zero, the weaker the relationship is. Therefore, this implies that the BMI of the
female triathletes does not play a major and important role in relation to their rankings.

In contrary to the positive r-value found in the male section, the female section’s r-value is negative
which technically implies that the greater the BMI of a female triathlete is, the better it’s ranking,
Where as, the positive r-value found in the male section suggests that the lower their BMI is, the
better the ranking. However, these statements are not genuine due to the fact that both r-values are
extremely close to 0, resulting in an acutely weak relationship between both variables.

Figure 3: Scatter plot showing the age in relation to the rankings of every elite male triathletes

Age in relation to the rankings of male triathletes

40

35

30

25
Years of age

20

15

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Rankings
 Julien Francois
The following scatter graph above shows the age in relation the the ranking of every elite male
athletes in 2018 at the ITU World Triathlon Series. We can directly observe that the majority of the
triathletes’s age ranges from 21 to 34 years. Due to the fact that the trend line is slightly decreasing,
I can assume that the triathletes who are slightly older and have more experience are further up the
rankings rather than the younger generations who have less experience.

- x Values : - y Values :

- Σ = 3321 - Σ = 2172
- x̄ = 41 - x̄ = 26.815
- Σ(x - x̄ )2 = 44280 - Σ(y - ȳ)2 = 822.222

- x and y Values combined :

- Σ(x - x̄ )(y - ȳ) = -577

- r Calculation :

- 134.2 / √((41080)(144.904)) = -0.0956

- r = -0.0956

Looking at the r-value, I can imply that although it is technically a negative correlation, the
relationship between the variables is weak. This suggests that the variables, age and ranking, have
no apparent effect on the rankings to the fact that the r-value is significantly close to 0.

Figure 4: Scatter plot showing the age in relation to the rankings of every elite female triathletes

Age in relation to the rankings of female triathletes

40

35

30

25
Age

20

15

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Rankings
 Julien Francois
- y Values :
- x Values :

- Σ = 2130
- Σ = 3160
- x̄ = 26.962
- x̄ = 40
- Σ(y - ȳ)2 = 1360.886
- Σ(x - x̄ )2 = 41080

- x and y Values combined :

- Σ(x - x̄ )(y - ȳ) = -1837

- r Calculation :

- 134.2 / √((41080)(144.904)) = --0.2457

- r = -0.2457

It can thus be concluded that the data holds a weak negative correlation and that the age and the
rankings do not correlate with each other.

- Validation :
The following data was collected from various online websites including the ITU World Triathlon
Series Archive, Super league triathlon online catalogue and the International Triathlon Organisation
website. The ITU World Triathlon Series Archive was mainly used for information on the rankings,
nationality and age of the triathletes. There was also some information on the height and weight of
the triathletes, however, it wasn’t frequent. The Super League Triathlon catalogue was also used for
information on the weight and height of the athletes. However, information on weight and height
for some triathletes still remained a problem as some of the information was impossible to find on
the internet. Therefore, with the use of various social media platforms, I was able to contact the
athletes that I didn’t find information on via instagram by asking them for their weight and height.
After sending numerous texts to each of the athletes, I was successful in getting the information I
needed to complete my IA.

- Conclusion :
To conclude, I have only found weak correlations between the Body Mass Index in relation to both,
rankings and age of the triathletes in the 2018 ITU World Triathlon Series. I wasn’t surprised with
the weak correlation found between the Body Mass Index and the rankings. This is because all
triathletes need to have very minimal body mass and to be as light as possible in order to compete at
an extremely high level and to go as fast as possible. In my point of view, the BMI of triathletes
does make a small difference in proportion to the rankings, however, endurance and skills is what
counts the most in competitive triathlon. As seen on figure 1, some triathletes have lower BMI’s,
which is better, then Mario Mola (first ranked) who has a higher BMI, but what makes the
difference, is the type of training, endurance and skills that one has compared to others.

What specifically surprised me was the BMI in relation to the age of the male triathletes. As seen on
figure 3, there is a weak decreasing correlation which implies that older triathletes are higher ranked
 Julien Francois
than younger triathletes. This might be due to the fact that older triathletes have more experience
than younger triathletes. Even though there is a negative correlation, the correlation is very weak
(close to 0) which infers that there isn’t much of a difference between the rankings and the ages of
the triathletes.

- Sources :