# Video-based performance analysis of paralympic running sprint

Yann Sonier, Andréa Sorel, Prince Simon, Amélie Poiré-Lehoux, Francine

Pilon, Prince François

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## ► To cite this version:

Yann Sonier, Andréa Sorel, Prince Simon, Amélie Poiré-Lehoux, Francine Pilon, et al. Video-based performance analysis of paralympic running sprint. Multidisciplinary Biomechanics Journal, 2025, 50th congress of the.., 10.46298/mbj.16254. hal-05191809v2

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# Video-Based Performance Analysis of Paralympic Running Sprint

Yann Sonier<sup>a, b</sup>, Andréa Sorel<sup>a, c</sup>, Simon Prince<sup>a, e</sup>, Amélie Poiré-Lehoux<sup>a</sup>, Francine Pilon<sup>e</sup>, François Prince<sup>a, d, e, f*</sup>

<sup>a</sup> StarLAB, Centre Intégré de Traumatologie, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, CIUSSS-Nîm, Canada

<sup>b</sup> UFR-STAPS, Université de Reims, Champagne-Ardenne, France

<sup>c</sup> Faculté des Sciences du Sport, Université Aix-Marseille, France

<sup>d</sup> Département de chirurgie, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Canada

<sup>e</sup> Olympic and Paralympic Research Group, Canada

<sup>f</sup> Institut national du sport du Québec, Canada

* Corresponding author: francois.prince@umontreal.ca

Received date: 05/04/2025

Accepted date: 27/06/2025

Publication date: 27/10/2025

**Keywords:** sprint, biomechanics, amputation, performance, Paralympics

© 2025 The Authors

Licence CC-BY 4.0

Published by Société de Biomécanique

## 1. Introduction

The T64 Paralympic category includes mainly athletes with a unilateral lower-limb amputation who use running-specific prostheses. At the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympic finals, athletes from T44, T62, and T64 categories competed together. While finishing time remains the main performance indicator, a detailed biomechanical analysis provides a more nuanced understanding of sprint performance. Differences in thesis design may also influence running mechanics (Tacca, Beck, Taboga, & Grabowski, 2022). The aim of this study was to compare the sprint profiles of four elite female para-athletes—Marissa Papaconstantinou (Canada), and Marlene van Gansewinkel, Kimberly Alkemade, and Fleur Jong (Netherlands)—during the 100m finals at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

## 2. Methods

### 2.1 Video selection

The videos for this analysis were selected from sequences available on the Web. Optimal views (top or sagittal) were chosen for the analysis. The open-access Kinovea application (Version 2023.1.2) was used to perform the video analysis.

### 2.1 Video processing

A total of 12 segments of the race were used to calculate specific biomechanical parameters (stride frequency,

step length and average speed) for specific sections (1-20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-80 and 80-100m) of the race. Fleur was the only runner with a bilateral amputation while the other had unilateral amputation. Multiple and corridor-specific video calibrations were done across selected sections.

### 2.1 Validation

The method was validated by comparing approach with published data from Usain Bolt's 100m world record (Graubner & Nixdorf, 2011). Table 1 shows that average step length, cadence, and average speed calculated using this method are within 1.2% of International Associations of Athletics Federation (IAAF) values (Graubner & Nixdorf, 2011).

<table><caption>**Table 1.** Usain Bolt World record comparison analysis of step length, cadence and speed between the present method and IAAF published data (Graubner & Nixdorf, 2011).</caption><thead><tr><th></th><th>Step length (m)</th><th>Cadence (steps/s)</th><th>Speed (m/s)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>IAAF</td><td>2,51±0,43</td><td>4,33±0,27</td><td>10,12±3,9</td></tr><tr><td>Present study</td><td>2,50±0,42</td><td>4,38±0,31</td><td>10,20±3,9</td></tr><tr><td>Delta</td><td>0,01</td><td>0,05</td><td>0,08</td></tr><tr><td>Delta (%)</td><td>0,4</td><td>1,2</td><td>0,8</td></tr></tbody></table>
# 3. Result and Discussion

## Tokyo 2020

As shown in Figure 1A, Marlene (gold medal) reached her peak speed (9.44 m/s) at 55 m shortly after achieving her maximum cadence (4.44 steps/s). Marissa (bronze medal) reached a top cadence of 4.30 steps/s and a maximum speed of 8.95 m/s at 47 m. Kimberly (5th place) maintained a stable stride frequency from 30–70 m, with a decline near 60 m similar to Marlene and Marissa. Fleur showed the lowest cadence at 47 m and the most pronounced decline in frequency up to the finish line.

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 1.** Step frequency comparison during 100m T64 finals in Tokyo (A) and Paris (B) Paralympics. Large dots indicate the top speed reached by para-athletes.</figcaption></figure>

## Paris 2024

Two athletes improved their peak speeds compared to Tokyo. Fleur (gold medal) reached 9.34 m/s at 64 m, and Kimberly (silver medal) reached 9.24 m/s at 55 m. In contrast, Marlene (bronze medal) and Marissa (7th) showed lower top speeds than in Tokyo. Fleur improved her stride frequency significantly in the early phase (0–13 m) and sustained a cadence above 4.0 steps/s throughout the race. Kimberly maintained her cadence above 4.0 steps/s as well. Despite achieving her highest cadence in Paris, Marissa could not maintain it beyond 55 m and showed a marked drop in frequency.

## Tokyo vs. Paris Comparison

The weather conditions were similar in both competitions with 22°C and 29°C respectively in Paris and Tokyo. Wind speeds were both within limits with 0,2 m/s in Paris and +0,1 m/s in Tokyo. Fleur showed the most significant gain (-0.6s), optimizing both cadence

and stride length. Marissa had the shortest step length, and the most pronounced cadence drop post-55 m. Kimberly adopted a more stable performance profile across both events.

## Lower limb prosthesis contribution to performance

Carbon fiber running-specific prostheses (RSPs) are used to enhance sprinting performance in amputee athletes (De Luigi, 2023). These J-shaped designs absorb and return energy during the stance phase (Tacca, Beck, Taboga, & Grabowski, 2022). At higher speeds, increased prosthetic stiffness has been associated with higher cadence and potentially improved 100m performance (Taboga, Kram, & Grabowski, 2016). Some authors (Charalambous, Irwin, Bezodis, & Kerwin, 2012) have shown that greater lower-limb stiffness in able-bodied sprinters correlates with better performance. These findings support the exploration of alternative prosthetic designs tailored to individual biomechanical profiles. The new designs should agree with the IAAF Rule 144.2.

# 4. Conclusions

Performance in T64 100m sprinting is determined by coordination between cadence and stride length. The video-based approach with proper validation methods provides a great tool to analyze sprint performance. The performance analysis approach proposed in this study can support athletic coaches and para-athletes in optimizing sprint mechanics and reaching peak performance.

## Conflict of Interest Statement

None.

## Contributor Roles

Conceptualization (YS,FP,FPi), Methods (YS,FP), Formal analysis (YS), Writing original draft (YS,FP); Validation (YS,FP), Conceptualization (YS,FP), Writing-review-editing (FP,YS,AS,SP,APH) and Supervision (FP).

## Data, software, code availability

The video data used in this research can be found at:

Paris: https://youtu.be/t76W7Z3D8es?si=DC2hgrJeGol8yLgl
Tokyo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KToFeLLVKw&t=176s
References

Charalambous, L., Irwin, G., Bezodis, I. N., & Kerwin
D. (2012). Lower limb joint kinetics and ankle joint
stiffness in the sprint start push-off. *J Sports Sci.*
*30*(1):1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.20
11.616948

De Luigi, A.J. (2024). The effects on sports performance of technologic advances in sports prostheses and wheelchairs. *PM R*, *16*(4), 409–417. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmrj.13153

Graubner, R., & Nixdorf, E. (2011). Biomechanical analysis of the sprint and hurdles events at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Athletics. *New Stud. Athl.*, *26*, 19–53.

Taboga, P., Kram, R., & Grabowski, A. M. (2016). Maximum-speed curve-running biomechanics of sprinters with and without unilateral leg amputations. *J Exp Biol*, *219*(Pt 6), 851–858. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.133488

Tacca, J. R., Beck, O. N., Taboga, P., & Grabowski, A. M. (2022). Running-specific prosthesis model, stiffness and height affect biomechanics and asymmetry of athletes with unilateral leg amputations across speeds. *R Soc Open Sci*, *9*(6),211691. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.211691.