Sports Psych

The Red Edge

The color of love, anger... and victory? British scientists tracked success in several Olympic sports; boxing, tae kwon do and wrestling. When the match was close and all factors were equal, athletes wearing red won more often than those wearing blue.

In many animal species, red signals male dominance. Researchers suggest that athletes in scarlet jerseys intimidate their opponents with this same power signal.

The Last Shall Be First

Performing last in a competition may mean prolonged anxiety, but it could pay off in the end, according to a study of champion ice skaters and of singers competing in the European version of American Idol.

Regardless of whether athletes received their scores during the competition or after, those performing later received slightly higher scores. One explanation: Judges look for the ways in which contestants are better than the previous challengers rather than how they are worse.

Pack Mentalities

Among elite athletes who endure the intense swim-bike-run race called the Ironman, those leading the pack have a different mind-set than stragglers. Top competitors are more likely to focus on each step of the race than are those who perform poorly.

The minds of those who bring up the rear are often cluttered with unfocused thoughts and actions, including high-fiving spectators and fiddling with their clothing.