IMPACT OF INDIVIDUAL DISCIPLINES ON THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE IN ATHLETICS COMBINED EVENTS

<ns3:p>Background: Athletics requires high physical, technical, and psychological preparation, with each discipline in combined events contributing uniquely to the final result. This study examines how individual events impact overall performance in the decathlon and heptathlon. Methods: The study includes an analysis of 570 decathlon results and 272 heptathlon results from the Olympic Games. The data were obtained from the official website of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and analyzed using multiple regression analysis to determine the contribution of each discipline to the overall score. Results: The analysis showed that in the decathlon, the pole vault has the highest contribution to the total score (ß = 0.212, B = 0.997, SE = 0.009), followed by the 110-m hurdles (ß = 0.150) and the javelin throw (ß = 0.127). These results highlight the importance of technical disciplines that require strength, explosiveness, and coordination. Sprint disciplines, such as the 100 m, 400 m, and 1500 m, showed a lower contribution due to the reduced variability of results among competitors. In the heptathlon, the long jump has the most significant impact on the overall score (ß = 0.338, B = 1.025, SE B = 0.089), followed by the javelin throw (ß = 0.235) and the high jump (ß = 0.240). Conclusion: The research results indicate that technical disciplines play a crucial role in achieving top performances in combined events, while sprint disciplines are less significant due to the limited range of results among competitors.</ns3:p>