Raising the bar on performance assessments using novel methods in Olympic Weightlifting

CAMERA researchers at the University of Bath are raising the bar on new performance testing methods by exploring novel approaches to assess Weightlifters Biomechanics in the wild.
Validating a commercially available markerless recording system is a crucial first step towards providing weightlifters with information on their performance. With accurate data they and their coaches can more confidently know what they need to do to become stronger, faster and less injured in their favourite sport.
That first step is being taken at the Centre for the Analysis of Motion, Entertainment Research and Applications (CAMERA), led by Senior lecturer Dr Steffi Colyer and CAMERA Studio Engineer (and weightlifting enthusiast) Harry Davies.
“This research is the first of its kind in the UK and builds on many years of applied sports biomechanics research CAMERA has showcased.” say Harry. “We’re using multiple highspeed calibrated video cameras to image male and female athletes, across different weight classes and age groups.”
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Using traditional and novel performance capture methods, the team are accessing data that can be used in three important ways – to provide biomechanical feedback to the athletes, to create a unique, first-of-its-kind, dataset, and to validate the proposed novel methods.
It’s not only physical heavy lifting taking place in this project, though. As Harry explains: “Each lift is recorded at 200fps with eight video cameras, 12 infrared cameras and four force plates. The lifter is covered with 70 retroreflective markers and the barbell with a
marker on each end.
“The markers are placed on anatomical landmarks and allow researchers to understand the movement of the athlete during the lift with regard to highly accurate movements from each bodily segment and the forces that underpin it.”
In the future the researchers hope this data set allows more research within Olympic weightlifting to take place, removing the barrier of data collection and paving the way for new method of performance assessments to be used at a large scale within Olympic Weightlifting.
A second round of data collection is due to take place during January and any weightlifters who are interested in taking part should contact the lead researchers, Harry Davies (hjd58@bath.ac.uk) or Dr Steffi Colyer (sc356@bath.ac.uk).