A BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF THE TECHNIQUES OF QU YUNXIA’s WORLD RECORD 1500 METRE RACE

Abstract

PURPOSE AND METHOD High-speed camera (100fps) was used to analyze qu Yunxia’s full run techniques when she broke the 1500 metre world record (3:50:46) at the 7th National Games of China in 1993. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The speed curve during her full run indicated a saddle-like shape with the highest speed 7.05 m/s. Her stride lengths were from 1.76 m to 1.89m, and stride frequency from 3.48 to 3.73 per second, both better than other top Chinese women runners. Her stride structure was reasonable with horizontal movement ratio of body centre of gravity 1.15 in support and flight phase and the two time ratio 1.14, meaning supporting was greater than flight, and the two phases were highly synchronous in structure. Before touching the ground, the knee joint of here driving let pawed. After touching the ground, the buffer of her knee and ankle was rather positive, which were helpful for reducing horizontal stopping. The amplitude of her driving leg while swinging forward was big ( around 87 degrees ) and the swinging speed was high. During the swinging period, the folding degree of here thigh and shank was small ( around 53 degrees) in knee angle, leading to a small swinging radius and a better mechanical condition for driving leg swinging forward and upward.