Biomechanical analysis of Olympic flatwater kayaking and canoeing.

Abstract

Abstract Slow-motion movies were taken of Olympic-caliber canoe and kayak paddlers over a 9-year period, including filming done during early season regattas in Sweden, Holland, and West Germany in 1971, during the Montreal Olympics of 1976, and during a postseason regatta in Mexico City in 1978. Kinetic and kinematic data were obtained from the films on both world-class and less successful paddlers to determine which measurements would best explain the successes of the champions. The relative motion of the path of the joint centers of the two arms to the boat, the paddle patterns, the absolute motion of the paddle underwater, and the stroke times were the most useful measurements for differentiating between good and poor performances.