Kinematics of the running-like sprint start in long-track speed skating

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to investigate the kinematics of the sprint start in long-track speed skating. Video recordings of 11 world-class long-track speed skaters (5 men and 6 women) were made during an ISU 500-m World Cup race held in February 2016. Video recordings were analysed with KWON3D XP 4.0. Analysis revealed that male skaters changed to gliding technique at fifth stroke while female skaters adopt gliding technique at sixth stroke. Although statistically not significant, male skaters showed greater difference (amplitude) in hip (mean difference = 4.43, SD = 12.11), knee (mean difference = 7.01, SD = 15.12) and ankle (mean difference = 16.68, SD = 27.76) angles between at the time of the CONTACT and the OFF compared to female skaters. Male skaters also showed greater pushoff angles compared to female skaters. These greater angles of male skaters were associated with quicker time to transition point therefore this might explain why male skaters are able to use gliding technique earlier than female skaters leading to superior performance.