Abstract
The ratio between the length of the second and fourth digits (2D:4D) has been found to be related to high-level sport attainment, most likely due to effects on endurance performance (Hönekopp & Watson, 2011). While most researchers have used a meta-analytical approach to test the relationship between digit ratio and sport performances with varying participants, in this study we used a sample of elite decathletes, a sport where performers perform events with varying demands. Data were acquired at an international invitational meeting and six athletes were willing to have their hands scanned to assess digit ratio of both hands. Additionally, the current performances per discipline were analysed. In a first step, we compared the digit ratios of the decathletes to norm values and revealed significant smaller values for the right hand, t(5) = 3.94, p = .01, d = 1.60, however, results for the left hand were not statistically significant although the effect size was meaningful, t(5) = 0.99, p = .36, d = .41. When we correlated the performance in each discipline with digit ratios, results revealed no clear trend for the correlations between digit ratios and decathlon disciplines. The effect sizes replicate previously findings that sporting attainment is associated with digit ratios. Additionally, using the same athletes with differing performances on a range of disciplines is a promising approach, but the level of heterogeneity between athletes needs to be increased to gain deeper insights.
