Before analyzing the data for the second decade considered, we see the speeds expressed in km/h in the same period and averaged over the first 20 athletes (males & females).
The 10km women were replaced (1999) by 20km and this should already lead to some technical difference.
| Speed | 20km - Men | 50km - Men | 20km - Women |
| | | | |
| Minimum | 14,95 km/h (2002) | 13,25 km/h (2002) | 13,49 km/h (2002) |
| 2000 | 15,13 km/h | 13,37 km/h | maximum |
| 2001 | 15,02 km/h | 13,27 km/h | 13,62 km/h |
| 2002 | minimum | minimum | minimum |
| 2003 | 15,12 km/h | 13,41 km/h | 13,59 km/h |
| 2004 | 15,09 km/h | 13,39 km/h | 13,62 km/h |
| 2005 | maximum | maximum | 13,66 km/h |
| 2006 | 15,14 km/h | 13,37 km/h | 13,59 km/h |
| 2007 | 15,09 km/h | 13,32 km/h | 13,51 km/h |
| 2008 | 15,14 km/h | 13,36 km/h | 13,61 km/h |
| 2009 | 15,03 km/h | 13,44 km/h | 13,64 km/h |
| Maximum | 15,31 km/h (2005) | 13,56 km/h (2005) | 13,67 km/h (2000) |
Evolution in decade 2000 - 2009
| Competition | Athletes at the Start | Red Cards issued | % on athletes |
| | | | |
| Sydney 2000 | 162 | 131 | 80,86% |
| 50km Men | 56 | 55 | 98,21% |
| 20km Men | 48 | 34 | 70,83% |
| 20km Women | 58 | 42 | 72,41% |
| | | | |
| Athens 2004 | 159 | 114 | 71,70% |
| 50km Men | 54 | 44 | 81,48% |
| 20km Men | 48 | 34 | 70,83% |
| 20km Women | 57 | 36 | 63,16% |
| | | | |
| Beijing 2008 | 158 | 108 | 68,35% |
| 50km Men | 51 | 46 | 90,20% |
| 20km Men | 48 | 37 | 77,08% |
| 20km Women | 59 | 27 | 45,76% |
| | | | |
| Total in Olympic from 2000 to 2009 | 479 | 353 | 73,70% |
| 50km Men | 161 | 145 | 90,06% |
| 20km Men | 144 | 105 | 72,92% |
| 20km Women | 174 | 103 | 59,20% |
The first answers we have from reading this table tell us that:
- The 50 km continues to be judged more rigorously by juries than the two fastest races, albeit somewhat less than the previous decade.
- the average speed of the best 20 athletes on the 50km distance (minimum 13.25 km/h in 2002 compared to 13.32 km/h in the previous decade and 13.56 km/h in 2005 compared with 13.34 km/h) can only marginally explain this reduction in rigor (2000-2009: 90.06% over the 1992-1999 period: 98.85%).
- even in the 20km of men there is a considerable drop in red cards for all athletes (2000-2009: 72.92% compared to 1992-99: 82.35%). Even in this case, this reduction of rigor is only marginally explained by the trend of speed
- the 20km women confirm the downward trend in the rigor of the three editions of the Olympic Games. That women walk better than men at this point is no longer just a question.
Red cards for bent knee and loss of contact
| Competition | Red Cards | Bent Knee | % | Loss of Contact | % |
| | | | | | |
| Sydney 2000 | 131 | 76 | 58,02% | 55 | 41,98% |
| 50km Men | 55 | 44 | 80,00% | 11 | 20,00% |
| 20km Men | 34 | 15 | 44,12% | 19 | 55,88% |
| 20km Women | 42 | 17 | 40,48% | 25 | 59,52% |
| | | | | | |
| Athens 2004 | 114 | 51 | 44,74% | 63 | 55,26% |
| 50km Men | 44 | 23 | 52,27% | 21 | 47,73% |
| 20km Men | 34 | 16 | 47,06% | 18 | 52,94% |
| 20km Women | 36 | 12 | 33,33% | 24 | 66,67% |
| | | | | | |
| Beijing 2008 | 108 | 50 | 46,30% | 58 | 53,70% |
| 50km Men | 46 | 30 | 65,22% | 16 | 34,78% |
| 20km Men | 37 | 10 | 27,03% | 27 | 72,97% |
| 20km Women | 25 | 10 | 40,00% | 15 | 60,00% |
| | | | | | |
| From 2000 to 2009 in Olympic Games | 353 | 177 | 50,14% | 176 | 49,86% |
| 50km Men | 145 | 97 | 66,90% | 48 | 33,10% |
| 20km Men | 105 | 41 | 39,05% | 64 | 60,95% |
| 20km Women | 103 | 39 | 37,86% | 64 | 62,14% |
Sydney can be considered the turning Olympics at least in 50km. For the first time in the history of the Games the percentage of red cards sent for bent knee is higher than loss of contact, but even more striking is the fact that it is exactly four times as much (80.00% bent knee and 20.00% loss of contact).
Even in Athens (52.27%) and Beijing (65.22%), judgment in the longest race confirms this trend, so we can safely say that we are in attendance, at least in 50km, of a change of vision by juries in this decade.
This change of vision by juries compared to the previous decade is also confirmed in the two shortest races where, although not to the extent of 50km, we witness an intensification of the red card for bent knee.
The explanation of this increase in red card for bent knee is also a consequence of the change of rule, which occurred in 1996, and metabolised by juries only in subsequent years.
In fact, we have passed from "bent knee at least for a moment and especially at the moment of the vertical" to "the advancing leg mus be straightened (ie not bent to the knee) from the moment of the first contact with the ground until the vertical upright position".
Sydney is the most striking example in all three events, but in particular in the 50km. Athens and Beijing have already brought us to more metabolized values.
We are now looking forward to seeing whether these trends will be confirmed or will change again after 2009, but we will do so in the coming days.