Leonid Novikov tells about future of sport statistics in Orienteering

Leonid Novikov is a famous runner, 2x WOC gold medal winner (including 1st ever Russian gold at WOC-Middle). He tells his opinion about perspectives of sports statistics in Orienteering.

Mike: 

You know, Leonid, that sports statistics in different sports play important role for media, fans, and coaches (e.g., football, tennis, volleyball, biathlon, etc.). Right now I am working on the development of new tools in sports statistic/performance analysis in Orienteering.

What is your opinion about priorities in this process? (Text with Italic type explains/gives example about particular tool)

- Relay performance/skills
Jukola/Tio statistics (+ each category of leg + as a front runner + as a chasing runner + as a park formation runner etc.). Who is the best night leg relay runner? Who is most stable international level relay runner (Sprint/Forest Relays)? 

- Complete/detailed results overview, including historical statistics/ranking
WOC results by attempts (+average placement in each distance), WC results by attempts (+each distance), Regional champs, O-Ringen, who is the best on each distance 

- Statistics of different legs types 
Performance at micro-relief; compass; run-like-hell; stony; uphill/downhill/traverse; short/medium/long; etc. legs

- Pacing/speed analysis
If runners are good in the beginning or end of the races? Do runner prefer even/positive (e.g. really fast at the beginning)/negative (better and better to the end of race)/U-shaped (strong beginning and strong end) pacing strategies? Who is keeper of best speed per km at different types of surfaces?

- Safety/mistakes analysis
safety indexes; mistakes/km; What is correlation between mistakes numbers of particular runner and terrain types (Scandinavian; continental flat; continental hilly; etc.) What are dominant types of mistakes of particular runner during current season? Who has a highest percentage of best route choices (long legs; urban legs; micro-route-choices)? Who is most technically skilled runner in the World?

Leonid:

- Relay performance/skills
Actually I have some answers on guiding questions. (1) Best night relay runner is Olexandr Kratov, he makes huge amount of night training, more then anyone. (2) I believe that most stable international level runner in forest relays is my brother Valentin. (3) It is not easy to say about Sprint Relays (it has been introduced just recently), I guess that the best is Matthias Kyburz.

As for Scandinavian Relay statistics, Orienteering (even in Scandinavia) is difficult to compare with professional approach and competitiveness in Olympic Games sports (e.g. track&field athletics). I have to say that there are a lot of non-professional runners even in Relay teams of best clubs. And I am not sure about priorities inside this tool. But I think that different legs statistics is good to have from Jukola/Tiomila.

- Complete/detailed results overview, including historical statistics/ranking
More information is good!! But I don't understand necessity to make attempts analysis, I guess that any WOC-gold is cool!

- Statistics of different legs types 
I think the same way, the more information is good! It should be good to have overview about best and worse athletes in various situations.

- Pacing/speed analysis
There are a lot of good runners at the beginning of the race. Because brain works good when you are fresh. But real professionals can manage in proper way all course and especially the last part of race.
Once more I am interested in all such statistical information.

- Safety/mistakes analysis
Again I'd like to put priority to this tool as well ))
I wish to add one point about relations between mistakes and heart rate and also at which part of race mistakes are coming.
As for most technically skilled runner in the World I think it is simple: the most technical runner in the World is the person who has used most advanced, technically challenged maps all his life (from childhood). I guess that the same thing is for best Sprint runner and best runner at Long distances: you have to run Sprint/Long races from your childhood. In this case you have chance to be the best.

Mike:  

Many thanks for your point of view! Looks like you are interested in all types of mentioned sport statistics in Orienteering.

Dear friends at the right side of your screen (on top) you can see a survey WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ABOUT PRIORITIES IN DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TOOLS IN STATISTIC/PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS.

Your opinion is important to set up priorities! Please, mark one or more points from list:
- Relay performance/skills
- Complete/detailed results overview, including historical statistics/ranking
- Statistics of different legs types 
- Pacing/speed analysis
- Safety/mistakes analysis

Explanations and comments you can read above. You may select multiple answers.

Click button "ГОЛОСОВАТЬ" to VOTE.

P.S. Photo of Leonid is from Noname photo archive (WOC-2013).