Modeling and analysis of optimizing the sport performance of elite women's 20 KM race walking

Sports performance analysis encompasses a comprehensive evaluation of athletes' technical and tactical proficiency, physical fitness, biomechanics, as well as physiological and psychological aspects. Race walking, as a continuous single sport, involves the optimization of rest periods to mitigate athlete fatigue and influence speed distribution. In this study, an optimization model for speed distribution strategy during race walking is developed based on the fatigue negative utility of athletes' effort distribution, considering the minimization of time, maximization of “output” for athletes, and minimizing the cost of the sport, subject to athletes' effort and fitness constraints. Additionally, three patterns are established to transform the relationship between speed and effort rate, and two motion specialization parameters, the body movement coefficient R and the penalty possibility coefficient J, are proposed. The model parameters are validated using international women's 20 km race walking data to identify effective time effort distribution patterns and optimal speed distribution strategies. The results showed that in 20 km race walking, a ‘high-low-high’ fatigue and effort control strategy links overall race time to speed efforts, focusing on effective fatigue control to optimize long-distance performance with minimizing the cost of the sport. By integrating mathematical modeling with empirical data analysis, this study explored an innovative and comprehensive way to analyze matches, and the theoretical and empirical findings provide insights for the preparation of race walking for major events.