Biomechanical Analysis of Men's High Jump Medalists in IAAF World Championships, Daegu 2011

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to perform a kinematic analysis of the high jump techniques of the three men's medalists at the 2011 IAAF Championships in Daegu (August 27-September 4, 2011). In particular, a three-dimensional coordinates method was used to analyze the last three strides before touchdown, the touchdown techniques, and the movements after takeoff toward the bar. An analysis of the, data for the biomechanical characteristics of the world's best high jumpers could contribute to an improvement in the performance of a national high jumper. The first conclusion of the data analysis was that the arm movements of the gold medalist, J.Williams, had a single arm form, whereas the arm movements of the other medalists were a double arm form. Second, the difference in the knee joint angles upon touchdown and toe-off was 10˚. Third, J. Williams achieved his maximum CM height after takeoff (1.26 m) using the maximum flexion of his knee joint. Fourth, the foot contact duration of A. Dmitrik (0.11 s) was the shortest among the medalists, and the ratio for his transformation of horizontal velocity to vertical velocity was the greatest (75.25%) among the three.Last, the maximum CM height of T. Barry was the greatest, and his foot contact duration was the longest.