DO SOME ATHLETE’S INERTIAL PROPERTIES GIVE THEM A NATURAL ADVANTAGE WHEN PERFORMING PURE SOMERSAULTS?

Abstract

The paper defines the relative difficulty of a posture as the transverse moment of inertia of the body in that posture, divided by the transverse moment of inertia when in a layout posture. Its value and range was compared across inertial property data sets compiled from estimates on current athletes and from the literature. Some data sets show that some athletes have a considerable natural advantage in terms of inertial properties alone when performing somersaults. No simple index showed promise to identify such athletes, and so each athlete’s inertial properties would have to be individually determined. Males and females were found to represent distinct sub-populations, with males being at a natural disadvantage. Athletes aged 12 years or under were also found to be a distinct sub-population and were at a natural disadvantage.