This example provides a further use of linear least squares fitting. It gives a context in which confidence in extrapolated values can be investigated.

The following table lists winners and winning times for the men's and women's 200 meter run at the Olympics.

Year	Male Winner	Time	Female Winner	Time
1948	Mel Patton, USA	21.1	F. Blanker-Koen, Netherlands	24.4
1952	Andrew Stanfield, USA	20.7	Marjorie Jackson, Australia	23.7
1956	Bobby Morrow, USA	20.6	Betty Cuthbert, Australia	23.1
1960	Livio Berruti, Italy	20.5	Wilma Rudolph, USA	24.0
1964	Harry Carr, USA	20.3	Edith McGuire, USA	23.0
1968	Tommie Smith, USA	19.83	Irena Szewinska, Poland	22.5
1972	Valeri Borzov, USSR	20.00	Renate Stacher, E. Germany	22.4
1976	Donald Quarrie, Jamaica	20.23	Barbel Eckert, E. Germany	22.37
1980	Pietro Mennes, Italy	20.19	Barbel Wockel, E. Germany	22.03
1984	Carl Lewis, USA	19.80	Valerie Brisco-Hooks, USA	21.81
1988	Joe Deloach, USA	19.75	Flo Griffith-Joyner, USA	21.34
1992	Michael Marsh, USA	20.01	Gwen Torrence, USA	21.81
1996	Michael Johnson, USA	19.32	Marie-Jose Peric, France	22.12