Tag Archives: Sports

Bar-line chart showing players with the most goals scored in World Cup matches

The bar-line chart below shows the numbers of goals scored in World Cup matches by the top 22 players. The bar indicates the number of goals and line shows the number of goals per game. In addition, we use data rows to list the number of games each athlete played in.

Miroslav Klose has scored the most the goals with 16 across 24 games. France’s Just Fontaine and Hungary’s Sándor Kocsis took only 6 and 5 games, respectively, to score 13 and 11 goals, having highest goals/game average and more than double the next highest.

Bar-line chart showing the 22 of the overall top goal scorers in World Cup matches

Bar-line chart showing players with the most goals and their average goals per game in World Cup matches

This chart was built using the Aploris add-in for PowerPoint on a Mac.

2018 Winter Olympic medals normalized by team size

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The bar-mekko chart below shows the number of Olympic medals won normalized by the team size. The width of each column represents the size of the team representing the country and height represents the medals they won per team member. As such, the area of the represents the number of medals won. 3 segments are used to separate out gold, silver, and bronze medals.

Visualizations of Olympic results typically show the total number of medals won by each country. However, each country sends different number of athletes based on a number of factors including qualifications. Showing the number of medals won normalized to team size would highlight the strengths of different teams.

The Netherlands won a shocking 0.61 medals per athlete they sent. Almost twice as much as the next closest country, Norway, which one the most medals. The Netherlands dominates speed skating which represents all the medals they won.

2018 Winter Olympic medals variable width bar chart

Bar-mekko chart showing 2018 Winter Olympic medals normalized by team size

This chart was built with PowerPoint 2016 for Mac and the Aploris add-in.

Stacked bar chart showing 25 highest paid athletes in 2016

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The stacked bar chart shows the earnings (USD) for the 25 highest paid athletes in 2016. The earnings are split based on what the athletes earn directly from their sport (salary, bonus, prize money) and other income, including endorsements. Some athletes, including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Roger Federer, earn most of their income through other sources (likely endorsements).

Stacked bar chart showing 25 highest paid athletes in 2016

This chart was built using PowerPoint and the Aploris add-in on a Mac.

Bubble chart showing relationship between Olympic team size and medals won per athlete

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The bubble chart below examines the correlation between the number of athletes that a country sends to the Olympics and the number of medals it wins per athlete. The data averages results from the last 3 summer Olympics Games for the top 20 medal winning countries. The X-axis represents the average team size, the Y-axis shows the average medals per athletes, and the bubble area matches the average medals won.

The data suggests that the more athletes a country sends the more medals they win per athlete. Cuba, an exception, has won more medals per athlete than expected given its average team size. This might be because they try and specialize in specific sports including boxing, athletics, and judo.

Bubble chart highlighting impact of Olympic team size on medal haul per athlete

Bubble chart showing average Olympic team size and medals won per athlete for the last 3 games

This chart was built using the Aploris PowerPoint add-in. Aploris helps business professionals quickly build insightful charts.

Mekko chart looking at Stephen Curry’s shooting percentages a different distances from the basket

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The Mekko chart below examines Stephen Curry’s shooting this season at various distances from the basket. The width of each column is proportional to the number of shots he takes from the indicated distance. The height of the yellow segment is proportional to his shooting percentage at the indicated distance.

We use the average line to show his total shooting percentage (across all distances) and the data row shows how the rest of the league compares. Steph shoots above average at all distances.

Marimekko showing Stephen Curry's shooting percentage

Marimekko chart examining Stephen Curry’s shooting at increasing distance from the basket

This Marimekko chart was built on a Mac with the Aploris PowerPoint plug-in.

Cluster bar chart comparing calories burned for different exercises

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The cluster bar chart below compares the calories burned by completing a 30 minute session of different activities. The cluster chart is used to provide two data points for each activity: one for a 125 pound person and one for a 185 pound person. The chart is grouped in 4 segments based on the activity type. The grouping was achieved by increasing the spacing between some columns.

Of all occupational activities, firefighting required the most calories. Not surprisingly, computer work required very few calories.

Calories burned doing different activities for 30 minutes

This chart was built with Office 2016 for Mac and the Aploris add-in.

Mekko chart of points scored by top 5 NBA scorers

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The Mekko chart below shows the total points scored by the current top 5 NBA scorers. The width of each column is proportional to the number of points the player scored. The segments show how the points were scored. Steph Curry has a significant lead over the others.

The labels of the segments show the absolute contribution as well as the percent contribution by the specific type of shot. In addition, two data rows are used to show the number of games the player has played as well as the points scored per game.

Marimekko chart of top 5 leading NBA scorers

Mekko chart showing points scored by top 5 leading NBA scorers

This Marimekko chart was created using the Aploris PowerPoint plug-in on a Mac with Office 2016.

Mekko chart showing World Cup finals appearances and wins

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The Mekko chart (otherwise known as the Marimekko chart) below shows FIFA World Cup finals wins and appearances. The width of the column is proportional to the number of world cup appearances a country has had in the final games. The segments in each column illustrate the number or wins and losses (win percentage). While Germany has one more finals appearance, Brazil has won the cup one more time.

We rotated the column labels to allow the country names to fit neatly. In addition, we use a data row to share the last time the country won the World Cup.

Mekko chart of World Cup finals appearances

Mekko chart highlighting World Cup wins and finals appearances

This Mekko chart was built on a Mac using Aploris and Office 2016.

Mekko showing number of World Series appearances by franchise

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The Mekko chart below shows the number of wins and losses for franchises with the most World Series appearances. The width of each segment is proportional to the number of appearances and the height of the lower segment helps compare the percent of times the teams won.

In addition, a data row was used to indicate when the team last won the World Series.

Mekko chart showing wins and losses for teams with most modern World Series appearances

This Marimekko chart was created using Aploris for Mac.

Waterfall chart showing prize money distribution for the 2015 US Open

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The waterfall chart below details the prize money distribution for the primary events at the 2015 US open. The total is $38.4M (excludes qualifying events) of which the singles events take $33M.

The waterfall or cascade chart is an effective way help readers understand the primary components: how much money is allocated to each event (bars), and how much money is allocated to the winners of each event (segments). Within each vertical bar, the horizontal segments highlight the prize money the winners take home versus all the other players. On average the winners of each event walk away with about 10% of the total prize money for that event.

Waterfall chart highlighting the breakdown of prize money for primary events at the 2015 US Open

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