Gone are the days when sports players would follow the most

plausible-sounding superstitions from one of the greats in the industry in order to improve their skill.

Nowadays, complex data and charts are used in order to accomplish this task to a much greater effect, and performance has been improved dramatically as a direct result. 

However, the degree of impact that data has had on sports performance is a hot topic for debate, and that is exactly what we are going to be discussing in this article. Let’s jump straight into it.

Knowledge = Power 

We have all heard the saying; knowledge is power. However, very few people understand just how literal this statement can be when put into the right context. Data has allowed performance athletes to measure and monitor every aspect of the game, and in turn, it has allowed them to excel in every area possible.

This is exactly why Olympians are getting better every year – the vast pool of knowledge we have compared to times past just allows us to constantly get better. Moreover, this phenomenon is far from a done deal yet. We are still discovering new ways to improve every single day, and science/data are allowing us to achieve feats that we never thought were possible. 

This extends to all sports all across the board – football, weightlifting, gymnastics, and even horse racing. (PS, if you are a fan of horse racing and are looking to get into betting, feel free to check out “horse racing bets explained” which tells you everything you need to know in detail).

Superstitions Are Becoming a Thing Of The Past

In past generations, most thought the key to improving at a sport was to wear the right shoes, sing the right song, or simply hope that an upcoming event was going to happen on a specific day.

Of course, practice has always played a vital role when it comes to improving at sports, and its importance is something that has been known for decades. However, superstitions also took up a sizable portion of most players’ focus, and it was not uncommon to hear about a player going through a vigorous ritual before a game starts in the hopes of swaying the odds in their favour.

Out of all the ways that analysis has affected sports, reducing superstition and supporting good strategy are two of the most notable. This has allowed athletes to put their efforts where it matters most, and it has undoubtedly changed the course of sports forever. 

So, were you surprised to find out just how much of a difference data has been able to have on sports performance? The true impact that data has had on the sports industry is truly immeasurable, and it is likely that the world of sports would look entirely different if certain data were to not come to fruition. 

Athletes of today are smarter, more informed, faster, and stronger because of the vital knowledge data can bring, and it is likely that this is only going to exacerbate as we move further into the future.