Limit to improvement in running and swimming Online publication date: Tue, 30-Sep-2014
by Yu Sang Chang, Seung Jin Baek
International Journal of Applied Management Science (IJAMS), Vol. 3, No. 1, 2011
Abstract: Can human performance continue to improve indefinitely? Or improvement will eventually slow down due to the existence of maximum limit? In this paper, the world records of 61 sport events in running and swimming through the last hundred years have been analysed to answer the question about the limit of human performance. The maximum limit for individual sport event has been estimated by the use of non-linear regression models. A new concept of 'time to limit' is developed to measure the number of years to reach the maximum limit. The averaged 'time to limit' for the 61 sport events is calculated in the range of 7.48 to 10.55 years. This study concludes with a number of policy implications for the local and national sport associations as well as for the international rule-setting federations. This study concludes that the time to limit projection made in this report is likely to be altered by the future rule changes to be made by the international federations.
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Applied Management Science (IJAMS):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:
Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.
If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com
Our Blog 
Follow us on Twitter 
Visit us on Facebook