Biomechanics of the sprint start

A study in the current issue analysed the crouch-start technique of elite sprinters from a biomechanical perspective.

The movements of 12 athletes were recorded with a dual-camera high-speed system (240 fps). First-step efficiency and push-off angle (42–46°) correlated strongly with sprint performance (r=0.78).

The authors advise coaches to focus on push-off angle and front-leg power.