Editing Competition number

[[File:Olympic Games 1980 - 5000 m race.jpg|thumb|right|Competition numbers on bibs of competitors in the [[Athletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Men's 5000 metres|1980 Olympic 5000m]]]]

In many [[sport]]s, a '''competition number''' is used to identify and differentiate the competitors taking part in a competitive endeavour. For example, runners in a race may wear prominent competition numbers so that they may be clearly identified from a distance.  Competition numbers are differentiated from [[Number (sports)|uniform numbers]] in that the former are used for a specific event (for example, competition numbers worn by [[marathon]] runners) while the latter persist over time through multiple events, seasons, or sometimes an entire career (for example, uniform numbers worn by [[Major League Baseball]] players).

Competition numbers may also be called '''bib numbers''' when worn on [[Bib (garment)|bibs]] over, or affixed to, the athletes' tops.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.runningcount.com/what-are-bib-numbers.php |title=What are Bib Numbers and Racing Bibs? |website=runningcount.com |accessdate=April 10, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/84601/why-do-some-olympic-athletes-wear-paper-numbers |title=Why Do Some Olympic Athletes Wear Paper Numbers? |first=Jake |last=Rossen |website=mentalfloss.com |date=August 15, 2016 |accessdate=April 10, 2020}}</ref> With new technology, bibs might contain timing chips for electronic identification.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mylaps.com/timing-solutions-active/bibtag/ |title=BibTag System |website=mylaps.com |accessdate=April 10, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.innovativetimingsystems.com/timing-chips |title=Innovative Timing Systems Chips |website=innovativetimingsystems.com |accessdate=April 10, 2020}}</ref> In addition to identifying an athlete, many high profile events also imprint sponsor logos. In such high profile events, bib numbers are mandatory. Failure to wear them could make an athlete subject to disqualification.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lamarathon.com/event-info/rules |title=Rules: Event Entry & Registration Requirements |publisher=[[Los Angeles Marathon]] |website=lamarathon.com |accessdate=April 10, 2020}}</ref>

==Athletics==
Since the 2000s, [[track and field]] athletes at major competitions wear their names as well as their numbers on their bibs. In relay events, all team members have the [[IOC country code]].  [[Track event|Track]] athletes also wear lane numbers on the shorts called "hip numbers", for identification by the [[fully automatic timing]] system which photographs athletes from the side as they cross a finish line.  In [[racewalking]] events, competitors also must wear numbers on their backs for identification by the judges after a violation has been detected.

In mixed competitions, like [[marathon]]s, where professional athletes run on the same course as non-elite athletes, the professionals traditionally wear bibs with their names to differentiate their pre-race status.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.outsideonline.com/2392523/belay-tilahun-nyc-half-marathon-winner |title=How a "Non-Elite" Runner Won the NYC Half |first=Martin Fritz |last=Huber |website=outsideonline.com |date=March 22, 2019 |accessdate=April 10, 2020}}</ref>

===Gallery===
<gallery>
File:Cheruiyot.jpg| [[Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot]] in the 2006 [[Boston Marathon]] with number on front of bib
File:Aselefech Mergia 6618.jpg| [[2009 World Championships in Athletics – Women's marathon|2009 World marathon]] runner with surname on front of bib
File:3000 steeple final Berlin 2009.jpg | [[2009 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 3000 metres steeplechase|2009 World steeplechase]] runners with numbers on the back of bibs
File:4 x 400 m Jamaica Berlin 2009.JPG| [[2009 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|2009 World 4 × 400 m relay]] team with "JAM" for the Jamaican team
</gallery>

==Motorsport==
In some types of [[motorsport]], such as [[rallying|rallys]], competition numbers are attached to the vehicles taking part in a specific event. The competition number can also be used in conjunction with some kinds of timing systems, such as [[targa timing]].

===Gallery===
<gallery>
File:Dakar-rally-paris1992-.jpg|Cars of the 1992 [[Dakar Rally]], with competition numbers visible
File:Audi Quattro - 2008 Rallye Deutschland.jpg|A rally competitor displaying competition number C166
File:Camion dakar.jpg|A rally support truck, with competition number 624 visible
File:Joan Barreda Piloto Amv Dakar 2016 (137839365).jpeg|A motorcycle rally competitor, with competition number 6 visible
</gallery>

==Other sports==
Other sports that may utilize competition numbers  include:
* [[Alpine skiing]]
* [[Biathlon]]
* [[BMX racing]]
* [[Gymnastics]]
* [[Snowboarding]]
* [[Triathlon]]

===Gallery===
<gallery>
File:Pippa Middleton at downhill ski race in Mürren, Switzerland - 03.jpg|Alpine skiers
File:Biathlon Oberhof 2013-039.jpg|Biathaletes
File:2018-10-15 Gymnastics at 2018 Summer Youth Olympics – Girls' Artistic Gymnastics – Apparatus finals – Balance beam (Martin Rulsch) 719.jpg|Gymnast
File:Speedsuit.jpg|Triathlete
</gallery>

==Notable competition numbers==
While the uniform numbers of various sportspeople have become well-known (for example, [[Wayne Gretzky]]'s 99, [[Michael Jordan]]'s 23, and [[Mickey Mantle]]'s 7), this is rare for competition numbers, which generally are used by an athlete only for a single event. Some notable exceptions include:

* 6 used by [[Paul Bikle]], a [[gliding]] competitor. The [[Bikle T-6]], a [[Glider (sailplane)|glider]], was named for Bikle's competition number and the T-tailed design of the aircraft.<ref>Said, Bob: ''1983 Sailplane Directory, [[Soaring Magazine]]'', page 37. [[Soaring Society of America]] November 1983. USPS 499-920</ref>
* 13 in [[cycle sport|cycling]], which is commonly worn upside-down due to [[triskaidekaphobia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.letape.nl/the-13-kit/ |title=The 13 Kit |website=letape.nl |accessdate=April 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bicycling.com/news/g20009291/do-you-know-these-cycling-rituals/?slide=3 |title=Do You Know These Cycling Rituals? |first=Whit |last=Yost |website=bicycling.com |date=November 17, 2016 |accessdate=April 11, 2020}}</ref>
* 51 in the [[Tour de France]], due to a false belief that it has been worn by more winners than any other number.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cyclist.co.uk/news/1396/tour-de-france-the-legend-of-bib-number-51 |title=Tour de France: The legend of bib number 51 |first=Felix |last=Lowe |website=cyclist.co.uk |date=June 30, 2016 |accessdate=April 10, 2020}}</ref>
* 261 in the [[Boston Marathon]], due to it being worn by [[Kathrine Switzer]] in the [[1967 Boston Marathon|1967 edition]] of the event, when she became the first woman to run the race as a numbered entrant.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.espn.com/espnw/news-commentary/story/_/id/7803502/2012-boston-marathon-how-kathrine-switzer-paved-way-female-runners |title = How Kathrine Switzer paved the way |last = Lorge Butler |first = Sarah |date = April 12, 2012 |work = ESPN |accessdate = July 13, 2012 }}</ref> Switzer later created a non-profit organization named 261 Fearless.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.261fearless.org |title=261 Fearless |website=261fearless.org |accessdate=April 10, 2020}}</ref>

At the [[2019 Boston Marathon]], organizers gave special bib numbers to several celebrities. Former [[National Football League|NFL]] player [[Tedy Bruschi]] was given 5454, his uniform number repeated; [[NASCAR]] driver [[Jimmie Johnson]] was given 4848, his car number with [[Hendrick Motorsports]] repeated; and [[Joan Benoit|Joan Benoit Samuelson]] was given 1979, the year of her first win in the event.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://patch.com/massachusetts/boston/boston-marathon-2019-top-men-women-celebrities-watch |title=Boston Marathon 2019: Top Men And Women, Celebrities To Watch |first=Jenna |last=Fisher |website=Patch.com |date=April 15, 2019 |accessdate=April 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/36afd558b3a140d6962ceedeea3df395 |title=NASCAR driver Johnson runs Boston Marathon in 3:09:07 |first=Jimmy |last=Golen |agency=[[Associated Press]] |website=apnews.com |date=April 15, 2019 |accessdate=April 10, 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web |url=https://www.triathlete.com/culture/can-bib-number-affect-performance/ |title=Can Your Bib Number Affect Your Performance? |first=Julia |last=Polloreno |website=triathlete.com |date=October 5, 2017 |accessdate=April 11, 2020}}

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0sVVT4r40A Thousands Of Runners Grab Bib Numbers, Gear At Boston Marathon Expo] from [[CBS Boston]] via [[YouTube]]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpbWLRrS-Cc Triathlon Race Day Tips | Race Belt and Race Number] via YouTube

{{Retired numbers in sports}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Competition Number}}
[[Category:Numbering in sports|*]]