Faculty Sponsor(s)
Stephen Bricher
Subject Area
Mathematics
Description
The Olympic Games constitute an international remembrance of sports excellence and peace in which winning medals constitutes a matter of great personal and national significance to athletes and nations. A forecasting of future medal outcomes has developed into a large application of sports analytics, but one with an elusive challenge inherent in varying performer performance, variable event rosters, and external factors like coach and home-based support. We were tasked with developing a model that could predict the top seven countries medal totals for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. While there are limitations to each model, collectively they represent a strong foundation for improving predictive accuracy for future Olympic analysis.
Recommended Citation
Oathout, Alex S.; Dooley, Conner B.; and Pinard, Lucas R., "Mathematical Modeling Contest: Predicting Olympic Game Medals" (2025). Linfield University Student Symposium: A Celebration of Scholarship and Creative Achievement. Event. Submission 39.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/symposium/2025/all/39
Mathematical Modeling Contest: Predicting Olympic Game Medals
The Olympic Games constitute an international remembrance of sports excellence and peace in which winning medals constitutes a matter of great personal and national significance to athletes and nations. A forecasting of future medal outcomes has developed into a large application of sports analytics, but one with an elusive challenge inherent in varying performer performance, variable event rosters, and external factors like coach and home-based support. We were tasked with developing a model that could predict the top seven countries medal totals for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. While there are limitations to each model, collectively they represent a strong foundation for improving predictive accuracy for future Olympic analysis.
