1University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Sport, Ljubljana, Slovenia
BIOMECHANICAL MODEL OF THE SPRINT START
BIOMECHANICAL MODEL OF THE SPRINT START
Sport Mont 2007, V(12-13-14), 19-26
The study analysed and identifi ed the major kinematic parameters of the phases
of sprint start and block acceleration that infl uence the results of sprint running. The
biomechanical measurements and kinematic analysis were performed on the best world’s
best sprinters during his preparation for the European Athletics Championship in
Geteborg 2006. In this competition Matic Osovnikar won the bronze medal in a 100-
metre run set the Slovenian national record with 10.14 s. The kinematic parameters of the
sprint start were established on the basis of a 2-D kinematic analysis, using a high-speed
camera with a frequency of 200 F/s. The measurements of block acceleration were made
by means of the OPTO TRACK technology and an infra-red photo cell system. The athlete
performed fi ve, 20m low-start sprints in constant and controlled measurement conditions.
The subject of the study was the set position from the point of view of the height of the total
body centre of gravity (TBCG), the block time at the front and rear blocks, block velocity,
the block face angle, the velocity of the TBCG in the fi rst three metres and the kinematic
parameters of block acceleration in the fi rst ten steps. The study showed the following
were the key performance factors in the two phases of sprint running: medium start block
distance, block velocity, low block face angles, fi rst step length, low vertical rise in the
TBCG in the fi rst three metres of block acceleration, contact phase/fl ight phase index in
the fi rst ten steps and the optimal ratio between the length and frequency of steps. Sprint start, block acceleration, technique, kinematics, top sprinter,
new technology
Abstract
Keywords
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