MEN’S ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS OLYMPIC GAMES NORMATIVE VALUES

The aim of this study is to establish normative values for the men's artistic gymnastics discipline in the Olympic Games. To this end, data from athletes who competed in the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games were analysed. The athletes’ scores were converted into z-scores, and normative values were established by defining qualitative descriptions for T-score performance ranges, from extremely weak to excellent (<20: extremely weak, ≥20–≤30: very weak, >30–≤40: weak, >40–≤45: below average, >45–≤55: average, >55–≤60: above average, >60–≤70: good, >70–≤80: very good, >80: excellent). In addition, the performances of athletes in both the qualification and final rounds of Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 were compared. When comparing the scores obtained by athletes across the six apparatus in the Olympics, a statistically significant difference was found only in the execution score of the first vault in the vault apparatus final (p<0.05). The findings of this study are expected to serve as a guide for coaches and athletes in setting performance goals. Furthermore, the normative data obtained can be considered an important reference dataset for determining the performance levels of athletes representing their countries in international competitions.