To follow the guidance of the 20th CPC National Congress on promoting all-round development of mass sports and competitive sports and working faster to build China into a leading sports nation, further improve the scientific training level of China's track and field coaches, and enhance the performance of Chinese athletics, the second China International Athletics (Sprint and Hurdle) Forum opened on Jan. 7th and successfully concluded on Jan. 11th. The forum was co-hosted by Chinese Athletics Association, Beijing Sport University and Shanghai University of Sport.
Themed on Science and Technology-led Training and Innovation-driven Events Preparation, the forum invited more than 100 participants, including coaches and researchers from China’s national sprint and hurdles teams, as well as grass-roots coaches, athletes, researchers and teachers from relevant provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and universities. During the five-day forum, Beijing Sport University, together with Professor Ralph Mann, provided 18 theory courses, 12 practice courses and 3 seminars covering five topics, from Sprinting Mechanics, Sprint Training and Improvement, Athlete Selection and Evaluation, Hurdling Biomechanics to Hurdles Training and Improvement. Compared with the First China International Athletics (Sprint) Forum, this forum not only covered more on sprinting, but also introduced athlete selection and hurdling. The combination of theoretical and practical courses made it easier for participants to learn about the effect of scientific training, and provided a new idea on innovative training for coaches.
Professor Ralph Mann, visiting professor at Beijing Sport University and expert for China’s national athletics team, was once again invited to the forum. Professor Ralph Mann is a former world record-holder in the men's 400m hurdles and a silver medalist at the Munich Olympic Games. As an athlete, a professor and a researcher, he mainly works on biomechanical studies and application, combination of data analysis and computer model, and immediate critical data feedback. His Champion Model, in particular, explores the features and patterns of sports performance of Chinese athletes.
Curtis Frye, head track coach at the University of South Carolina, coach Karim Abdel Wahab, coach Kevin Brown, as well as Mr. Loren Seagrave, track coach and strength and conditioning specialist and the founder of Speed Dynamic, were also invited to the forum. The Chinese expert team included Professor Wu Wenqiang and Dr. Feng Junpeng from Beijing Sport University, Dr. Zhou Jialin from Beijing Sport University (assistant researcher at the Science and Technology Department of the Winter Sport Centre), and coach Chen Chong from Zhejiang College of Sports. Based on sprint and hurdles, the experts focused on technical analysis and diagnosis for Chinese high-level sprinters and hurdlers, and introduced the latest training and technical concepts of sprint and hurdles respectively to the participants. They also introduced a brand-new motion-capturing and analysis system, which records every movement of the athletes in detail and perform real-time data analysis, contributing greatly to the selection of young athletes and skill improvement of professional athletes.
On the first day, Mr. Hong Ping, vice president of Beijing Sport University, delivered a speech on Beijing Winter Olympic Spirit and Scientific and Technological Innovation. He elaborated on the importance of science and technology in preparing for the games by the example of the Winter Olympic Games. Professor Ralph Mann elucidated the basic mechanics of sprinting based on biomechanics. Professor Wu Wenqiang explained the importance of start of a race from the biomechanical perspective. Professor Wu also conducted a case study of the starting techniques adopted by elite athletes to deepening the coaches' understanding of the starting mechanics.
On the second day, Coach Loren illustrated training plans and arrangements based on the rationale of sprint cycle training. Coach Karim gave a report on youth strength development, making a detailed overview of strength development. Professor Ralph Mann focused on the factors influencing sprinting.
On the third day, Professor Ralph Mann introduced athlete selection process and evaluation methods of sprint. Coach Karim explained how the young sprinters were evaluated. Professor Ralph Mann later demonstrated the use of Keiser equipment in the strength room, illustrating the idea of "Science and Technology-led Training and Innovation-driven Events Preparation."
On the fourth day, Professor Ralph Mann made a report on hurdling biomechanics, in which he introduced hurdling biomechanics in detail through tests and evaluation. Dr. Zhou Jialin reported on the biomechanics of start of short hurdle races. She lectured on taking seven and eight steps to the first hurdle, and explained the difference between the starts of hurdles and sprint for the participants.
On the fifth day, Coach Kevin showed hurdle drills and strengthening exercise online. Professor Ralph Mann demonstrated what Coach Kevin presented in practice, deepening the participants’ understanding of the topics. In the end, Professor Ralph Mann explained the mechanics and technical characteristics of steps between hurdles and made onsite demonstration with the help of elite athletes, enabling participants to have a more comprehensive understanding of hurdles.
The forum was prepared by the faculty and students from the China Athletics College of Beijing Sport University. They have provided diligent support to the organization, logistics, and translation in this forum, which was well received by the participants. The forum provided a platform for Chinese sprint and hurdle coaches, faculty and students to have exchanges, and promoted the development of athletics events. Coaches from the national, provincial and municipal teams expressed that they have gained greatly from the forum and would like to put what they have learned into practice.
