Table 5.

The Winning Margin in Elite Athletic or Swimming Events During the Last Three Olympics

Median Margin (%)a	n	Win Gold	Win Medal	Make Final
Athleticsb
Running	81	0.62	0.31	0.22
Jumping	24	0.92	0.42	0.92
Throwing	24	1.93	0.70	0.75
Swimmingc
Backstroke	12	0.56	0.28	0.16
Breaststroke	12	0.84	0.14	0.17
Butterfly	12	0.52	0.48	0.12
Freestyle	30	0.49	0.23	0.14
Relay	18	0.37	0.35	0.12

^aWinning margin is defined as the difference (expressed as a percentage of the faster time) between first and second place (Win Gold), between third and fourth place (Win Medal), and between the last into the final and the first that missed out (Make Final). Years (2008, 2012, 2016) and sexes were combined as there were no significant differences in winning margin between them.

^bRunning includes 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 800 m, 1500 m, 5000 m, 10,000 m, marathon, and 3000-m steeplechase, 110-m (male)/100-m (female) and 400-m hurdles, 4 × 100-m and 4 × 400-m relays, and 20-km and 50-km walk events. Jumping includes high jump, long jump, triple jump, and pole vault events. Throwing includes javelin, shot put, discus, and hammer events. Heptathlon and decathlon were not included as their final results are in points, not times.

^cEvents comprise 100 m and 200 m for the form strokes and 50 m, 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 800 m (female)/1500 m (male) and marathon 10 km, with the relays being the 4 × 100-m medley and 4 × 100-m and 4 × 200-m freestyle relays.