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For athletes hoping to gain an advantage, new research suggests wearing red may not be the boost it once was. In 2005, research led by Professors Russell Hill and Robert Barton in our Department of Anthropology found that wearing red boosted the chances of success in some sports. However, two decades later, a new study involving the same researchers finds that wearing red may no longer provide the sporting advantage it once did.
Red is no longer a winner's colour
The study looked at a much larger number of tournaments and examined whether wearing red still resulted in a competitive advantage for athletes. The focus was on close-contact sports such as boxing, taekwondo, and wrestling.
In all three sports athletes were assigned either red or blue sports clothing for each bout.
If red still retained its earlier competitive power, then those wearing red would be expected to win more often.
The team looked at results from seven Summer Olympic Games (1996-2020) and nine World Boxing Championships (2005-2021). With over 6,500 individual competition outcomes assessed, the team then focused on close contests, with a narrow points difference. These were where red was expected to tip the balance between winning and losing.
Up to 2005, when the original study was published, there was some advantage to red clothing, with 56% of victories between closely matched competitors going to the athlete in red.
However, more recent data up to 2020 show that the advantage disappeared, even in close contests.
Technology and rule changes
Why has this advantage disappeared over time? The team suggest that rule changes and technology which eliminate referee bias could be behind it.
One reason for the red advantage seems to have been bias in referees' perceptions.
Before 2005, combat sport referees played a larger role in assigning points. Today, scoring is increasingly supported by technology.
In taekwondo, an electronic scoring system for the body and head was implemented in 2012 and 2016, respectively. An instant video replay has also been in place in the sport since the 2012 Olympic Games.
In addition to technological advances, clarification of rules in recent times means that there is less room for interpretation when awarding points.
Finally, awareness of the earlier advantage of red may have reduced its power in the years since the original study.
For athletes looking to secure a win – combat sports offer a more level playfield than ever before.
