The purpose of this study was to investigate the kinematic parameters of the hurdling of women`s steeplechase world record holder Gulnara Galkina-Samitova. Digital video cameras were used to record seven barrier clearances during the women`s 3000m steeplechase event at the Athens Grand Prix "Tsiklitiria" in July 2007. The kinematics of the last stride, the take-off, the barrier clearance, the landing and the first stride after the barrier were extracted using a 3D-DLT kinematic analysis. Descriptive statistics (mean value, standard deviation and coefficient of variation) were utilised in order to compare parameters of the hurdling technique from lap to lap. It was found that Galkina-Samitova executed the barrier hurdling with greater speed and hurdle stride length than has been reported for women steeplechasers. Her approach stride length increased throughout the race, while a constant lowering of the peak height of the body centre of mass during the barrier clearance was observed. Differences concerning the knee joint kinematics between the left and right leg were also found. The authors conclude that coaches must give greater emphasis to the bilateral execution of the steeplechase barrier hurdling technique. Furthermore, it is important to learn to execute barrier clearances in fatiguing conditions.
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