Pico de idade de desempenho dos atletas de para powerlifting nos Jogos Paralímpicos de Paris 2024

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the age at which Paralympic powerlifting athletes reached their best performance at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Additionally, the study sought to compare ages according to weight category, athletes’ sex, and medalist versus non-medalist status, to identify the age range most associated with peak athletic performance. The database comprised 173 Paralympic powerlifters (88 men and 85 women) who competed at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Data on athletes’ names, date of birth, sex, and performance were obtained from the Official Results Book of Para Powerlifting published by the International Paralympic Committee. Statistical analyses included the independent samples t-test and oneway ANOVA, following verification of normal distribution using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. The results showed that the overall mean age of athletes was similar between men and women (35 years), with no statistically significant difference between sexes (p = 0.98). In contrast, a significant difference was observed between medalists (32 years) and non-medalists (36 years; p < 0.001), indicating that athletes who achieved podium positions were, on average, younger. It is concluded that peak performance in elite Paralympic Para Powerlifting tends to occur at approximately 32 years of age, with the younger age of medalists potentially explained by physiological factors such as greater recovery capacity and training responsiveness at younger ages.