There is a tremendous amount of data on the Vancouver Games Site. I grabbed the results for the Men's Free Skate , re-formatted the data using Excel, and then put together this Viz using Tableau Public.
The viz contains 3 graphics: a bar chart and 2 heat maps. The skaters always appear in the columns, but the order changes for each component - They are always sorted left to right by score. The Bar chart shows the combined score of each skater in the free skate. Each of the Heat Maps describes a different component of the combined score: Executed Elements & Program Components. Deductions is a third component of the combined score - Takahashi and Chan each had 1 point deductions for falls.
I have sorted the Executed Elements top to bottom in descending order by Base Value so that the most difficult elements are at the top. An element's score is derived by adding (or subtracting) the "Grade of Execution" to the base Value. The displayed score is the addition of the Base value and the "GOE". The color shows whether the grade of execution was positive (Green), neutral (Gray), or negative (Red).
A few observations:
Lysacek and Plushenko tied exactly on the Program Components - Takahashi had the highest Program Components score. Neither Lysacek nor Plushenko had any deductions, so Lysacek won the free skate based on the executed elements - beating Plushenko by just two points. While Plushenko had the single highest scoring element (the much ballyhooed "Quad Loop + Triple Toe Loop" which scored a 14.6) , the total base values for their routines (Lysasek - 74.93 ; Plushenko - 75.03) were virtually identical. Lycacek made up part of the base value gap by executing some his tougher elements after the midway mark of the program, thus benefiting from a 10% "bump" in the base value of the elements. Elements that appear with two different base values are those which had the 10% increase for skaters who performed it after the midpoint.
The margin of Lycacek's victory could be ascribed to just 2 out of the 13 elements in his routine - the Triple Lutz and the Triple Loop. Both Lycacek and Pleshenko performed these two elements, but Lycacek did them AFTER the midway point, thus adding 10% to their base value (worth 1.1 points collectively) and he performed them better than Pleshenko, earning higher GOE's on each.
Plushenko may have performed the highest single scoring element but Lycacek countered by making his elements - the same elements as Plushenko - count for more. He's crafty, that Lycacek guy.
What About Johnny Weir - Do they just not like his hair?
Remember how the announcers made it look like Johnny Weir lost it on the bobble on his sit spin ? (The "FLying Sit Spin 3" to be precise). NBC replayed it several times along with the grimace from Weir's Coach. Well that element was worth a total of 2.6 pts and he scored a 2.1. He only lost a half a point. In fact, Weir was third behind Plushenko and Lycacek in the Executed Elements. Where he LOST it was in the program components. He was last of the top 6 - a full 5 points behind the 5th place finisher - Patrick Chan. In fact Weir was last on EVERY element in the Program Components except for footwork (Plushenko brought up the rear on that element). The Program Compnents seem to be the remnants of the old subjective system of judging. COUld it be the judges just didn't Like Johnny Weir?
Note: This is both my first attempt at publishing a "Viz" as well as my first Blog post . . .ever. I never expected that my first public post would contain the words "triple toe loop". Guess I'm just grateful that I didn't have to type "Triple Salchow". . . .doh.
very cool, I usually don't care for sports unless I understand what's going on - but I never want to put in the time... Thanks for doing it for me!
ReplyDeleteSolid analytics, man. Nice work. As to your decision to lock your laser onto men's figure skating for your first public blog... we all know that you harbor a quiet, in-the-dark-hours-of-the-night passion for rhinestones. This was just the excuse you needed to admit it.
ReplyDeleteThere's quite a lot that becomes clear in the viz that adds clarity to the competition. Remember how the announcers made it look like Johnny Weir lost it on the bobble on his sit spin ? (The "FLying Sit Spin 3" to be precise). NBC replayed it several times along with the grimace from Weir's Coach. Well that element was worth a total of 2.6 pts and he scored a 2.1. He only lost a half a point. In fact, Weir was third in the Executed Elements. Where he LOST it was in the program components. He was last of the top 6 - a full 5 points behind the 5th place finisher - Peter Chan. In fact Weir was last on EVERY element in the Program Components except for footwork (Plushenko brought up the rear on that element). The Program Compnents seem to be the remnants of the old subjective system of judging. COUld it be the judges just didn't Like Johnny Weir?
ReplyDeleteI don't get it. Where are the March 40 calls? ;)
ReplyDeleteNice first post. The graphic was informative and clear.
ReplyDeleteArchie Tse from the NY times came to basically the same conclusion that I did:
ReplyDeleteHow Lysacek defeated Plushenko:
http://vancouver2010.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/19/how-lysacek-defeated-plushenko/
This is great stuff, Kyle. The #s, charts and graphics are a little overwelming for a guy like me who is data challenged and locked into prose, but for the same reason I loved the explanation -- esp. Johnny Weir (and the quip about his hair!). This is a gift you have -- the ability to take complicated data, turn it into a (quasi) comprehendable and visually striking presentation and, most important for readers like me -- explain it in a way that is clear and entertaining.
ReplyDeleteThey always say, take your hobby and find a way to turn it into a career. Do that. Your Right-coasted brother-in-law
You lost me at "ice skating", then in deference to my father, who actually COULD ice skate and perform some of these elements, I went back for a second look. Wow. Great stuff. Now, just explain to me how the Flying Tomato knows where he is in mid air...
ReplyDeleteDude, 5th place was Patrick Chan, not Peter!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kyle- I've been confused about ice skating my whole life. Now I can clearly visualize why. I think the format needs to be redesigned- ice skating cage match...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX0SD_cazhs
ReplyDeleteI always knew you were a nerd, but does Margo know about the figure skating thing?
You used to be cool, you used to be in a BAND!