Success is written in the stars

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-21 08:45

After comparing the birth dates of every Olympic winner since 1896, British statistician Kenneth Mitchell found athletes born in certain months were more likely to thrive.

Mitchell dubbed the phenomenon "The Pisces Effect" (pisces is Latin for fish) because athletes born under the sign received around 30 percent more medals in events like swimming and water polo. Big overall winners were born under Capricorn, Aquarius and Aries.

Behind the birth date

Checking out the birth dates among the Beijing winners produces some intriguing results.

For fencers looking to deliver a sting in the tail and make it to the podium, Scorpio is the right sign. Two of the three Beijing medalists in the men's individual saber event were Scorpio, he said.

For pole vaulters charging down the track, it is better to be born under Taurus, the sign of the bull.

Any Olympic hopefuls unsure which event to pick can now turn to olympicstarsign.com, and find which sport would be the perfect astrological fit.

Mitchell knows a thing or two about statistics. "I have a PhD from Glasgow University on statistical ecology and a further 33 years working on statistical data analysis," he explained on his website.

Sexy ping pong

Women players mostly wear baggy shorts and shirts unlike their tennis counterparts who dress for comfort as well as style.

"We are trying to push the players to use skirts and also nicer shirts, not the shirts that are made for men, but ones with more curves," International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) vice president Claude Bergeret said.

One player, Japan's Naomi Yotsumoto, has taken matters into her own hands. At the Japanese national championships last year, she played in a daring ensemble of her own design: knee socks, a pleated mini-skirt and a shirt that left one shoulder bare.

(China Daily 08/21/2008 page29)