Instrumentation Monthly Test | Measurement | Control
In the run-up to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Olympic champion Anthony Ervin trained using the Kistler Performance Analysis System for Swimming (PAS-S) to improve his performance off the starting block.
Ervin went on to success, coming in at a time of 21.40 – one-hundredth of a second faster than his rival, Florent Manaudou.
The margins of victory in swimming competitions are becoming increasingly slim. The difference between winning and losing often comes down to just a few hundredths of a second. Details are the key to achieving success at the elite level. A prime example of this is Anthony Ervin’s Olympic win. In that race, a tiny detail made all the difference, as evidenced by Ervin?s lead of one one-hundredth of a second. Such nuances cannot be detected by the human eye, but can be captured by measurement systems. During his training, Ervin relied on the Kistler PAS-S. The measurement data and the feedback provided allowed him to improve his starting performance efficiently, resulting in a repeat performance of his previous success, 16 years after winning his first Olympic gold.
Kistler PAS-S consists of a starting block overlayed with Kistler force sensors, turning plates equipped with additional force sensors custom-mounted at the pool’s edge, and high-performance cameras above and below the water. The system precisely captures key kinetic and kinematic parameters. The measured data are compiled in the PAS-S software, giving coaches and athletes a tool for analysing and improving starts and turns. Immediate feedback allows the coach to introduce improvements during the same training session.
Kistler says is proud to have played a part in this success with its PAS-S and looks forward to an ongoing partnership with Ervin as its brand ambassador.
