Red clothing’s competitive advantage has faded in combat sports, new study finds

For athletes hoping to gain an advantage, new research suggests that wearing red may no longer be the boost it once was. In 2005, research by Professors Russell Hill and Robert Barton of our Department of Anthropology found that wearing red increased the chances of success in certain sports. However, two decades later, a new study involving the same researchers reveals that wearing red may no longer provide the athletic advantage it once did.

The work is published in the magazine Scientific reports.

The study looked at a much larger number of tournaments and examined whether wearing red still provided a competitive advantage for athletes. Emphasis was placed on close contacts sporty such as boxing, taekwondo and wrestling.

In all three sports, athletes were assigned red or blue sportswear for each bout.

If red still retained its previous competitive power, then those who wear red should win more often.

The team looked at results from seven Summer Olympics (1996-2020) and nine World Boxing Championships (2005-2021). With more than 6,500 individual competition results evaluated, the team then focused on close competitions, with a small difference in points. This is where red was supposed to tip the balance between victory and defeat.

Until 2005, when the original study was published, red clothing had some advantages, with 56% of victories between closely matched competitors going to the athlete in red.

However, more recent data through 2020 shows that the advantage is disappearing, even in close competitions.

Technology and rule changes

Why has this advantage disappeared over time? The team suggests that rule changes and technology that eliminate referee bias could be the cause.

One of the reasons for red’s advantage seems to have been a bias in the referees’ perception. Before 2005, combat sports referees played a more important role in awarding points. Today, scoring relies more and more on technology.

In taekwondo, an electronic scoring system for body and head was implemented in 2012 and 2016 respectively. Instant video replay has also been in place in this sport since the 2012 Olympic Games.

In addition to technological advancesclarification of the rules in recent times means there is less room for interpretation when awarding points.

Finally, awareness of red’s prior benefits may have reduced its power in the years since the original study.

For athletes seeking victory, combat sports offer a more level playing field than ever before.