Technical Considerations On The European Weightlifting Championships, Bucharest 2018, 48kg Weight Class

Abstract

In weightlifting, as in other sports, the fight for the first places within each weight class involves at least 4 to 6 athletes with approximately equal performances. The continuous improvement of the lifting technique must represent a permanent concern, without which the achievement of outstanding performances remains a random phenomenon. Among the main qualities required by weightlifting, an essential element in achieving sports performance is the lifting technique. This study focuses on the recording and analysis of execution times (from the moment when the discs are lifted off the platform until the upper limbs are stretched up with the barbell overhead). The study is part of an extensive research that aims, in this stage, at all categories of athletes participating in weightlifting competitions. The recording and measurement were performed using the AviSynth program that consisted of: camera - JVC digital camera, electronic computer, tripod, laptop, video monitor and video cassettes. The research presents the recording and analysis of execution times in the snatch event for some women weightlifters of European value, participants in the 2018 European Weightlifting Championships that took place in Bucharest, Romania. The research includes seven female athletes aged 21 to 30 years, from different countries, namely two athletes from Italy and one athlete from Bulgaria, Poland, France, the United Kingdom and Romania, respectively. This study is the continuation of a research on execution times in the snatch event, which finally aims to compare the Romanian athletes with those from other countries.

Keywords: Analysisweightliftingperformance sporttechniqueexecution time

Introduction

Major international competitions bring together athletes who have about the same level of physical and technical-tactical preparation. Under complex competitive conditions, the results are determined by the athletes’ psychological qualities and ability to maximally exploit their personal resources. Rational training for competitions is related not only to focusing on motor actions, thoughts and sensations which are important for a given activity, but also to the disconnection from factors of another nature, which are abundantly present in direct preparation and while participating in competitions.

Experienced coaches carry out a systematic and careful activity in this regard: together with their athletes, they study in detail the technical and tactical characteristics, the strengths and weaknesses of the main competitors; at the same time, they get their athletes familiar with the competition venues: the sports facilities, the conditions provided for their warm-up, rest and recovery (Platonov, 2015).

Performance sport is a limit activity of man’s physical and mental capabilities. Sports performance results from the interrelation of a particularly large number of factors, the weight of which is different both structurally and circumstantially (Epuran, 2013).

Identifying execution times for the snatch event is one of the most common aspects in the activity of weightlifters, regardless of their level. Research on intermediate execution times for the weightlifting techniques has enriched due to the significant contribution of some authors, such as Fronov, Lenkov, Efimov and Vangas.

It is worth noting that the Italian weightlifting school has developed a model that divides the snatch style into 4 periods and 8 phases (Urso, 2011).

Using the video method, experts highlight that the level of technical training has improved for each indicator assessing the phases of technical procedures (Ulăreanu, 2014).

We also recall that the rules governing the weightlifting competitions have undergone changes related to the temporal aspect. Some authors believe that the speed with which the barbell is lifted depends on its weight and the athlete’s sport mastery. With heavier weight, the speed decreases, and the duration of initial acceleration decreases in direct relation with the sport mastery (Dvorkin, 2005).

Problem Statement

1. Checking the possibilities of using the computerised imaging technique in barbell lifting for the snatch event. 2. Identifying execution times in snatch weightlifters through recording and measurement, using the AviSynth software program.

Research Questions

Identification of execution times in the snatch event provides the opportunity to compare weightlifters, namely to establish connections and make observations on the achieved performances.

Purpose of the Study

The research is part of a broader study that aims to investigate weightlifters (of both genders and different classes) with regard to certain moments related to the analysis of execution times characterising the lifting styles. This study addresses the recording and analysis of execution times (from the moment when the discs are lifted off the platform until the upper limbs are stretched up with the barbell overhead). In this respect, our research presents the recording and analysis of execution times in the snatch event for some top European women athletes in value group “A”, 48kg weight class.

The research includes seven female athletes aged 21 to 30 years, from different countries, namely two athletes from Italy and one athlete from Bulgaria, Poland, France, the United Kingdom and Romania, respectively. The research was conducted in two main stages: stage 1, carried out between March 26^th and April 1^st, 2018, at the Polyvalent Hall within the “Sydney 2000” Olympic Complex of Izvorani, during which the athletes were selected and video recorded; stage 2, during which the results were processed and analysed using the AviSynth software program; processing the data obtained from recordings (ordering the data: number of frames per execution, converting the frames into seconds etc.); drawing conclusions and making observations (based on the obtained results).

Research Methods

This is an ascertaining research, more precisely an evaluative-ameliorative one. We used several research methods, such as scientific documentation, observation and data recording, but mostly the statistical information method. The instruments through which we obtained the necessary information were related to the computerised technology, where we used the AviSynth software program connected with the video technique. We mention that, in our study, video recordings were processed using the AviSynth software program, which was made available to us by the managers of the National Institute for Sport Research in Bucharest. This is a Windows frameserver developed by Ben Rudiak-Gould and Edwin van Eggelen, under the GNU GPL license (AviSynth, 2014). This research was based on the imaging technique. The main research method was computerised technology connected with the video technique. The recording and measurement were performed using the AviSynth software program that consisted of: camera - JVC digital camera, electronic computer, tripod, laptop, video monitor and mini video cassettes. The most experienced competitors in this weight class are the athletes from Italy and France, aged 30 years, while the second Italian competitor will be ranked 3^rd in the finals, being the youngest female athlete – only 21 years old (Table 01 ).

Findings

To make easier the identification of the terms used in the tables below, we give the following explanations: S.N. (surname and name - initials); COU (country); Time 1 (first contact of the foot with the competition platform); Time 2 (feet are planted under the barbell axis); Time 3 (hands grasp the barbell); Time 4 (barbell is lifted off the platform); Time 5 (barbell is fixed overhead); Kg (lifted kilograms); S (successful attempt); F (failed attempt).

At this event, Romania was represented by a group of 16 athletes, 8 women and 8 men, whose goal was to win four medals. Our representative in the 48kg class, Elena Ramona Andries, managed to win all three gold medals.

This research is part of a broader study, which is reflected in the structure of Tables 02 , 03 and 04 that reveal the value of concentration times for each athlete, but especially the theme of the present paper, “Technical considerations on the European Weightlifting Championships, Bucharest 2018, 48kg weight class”, for the seven participants included in the value group “A”, aspirants for a place on the podium.

Analysing the technical performance behaviour (Tables 02 and 08 ) for the two-hand snatch technique, we can note the following: average execution speed for the first attempt is 3.26 seconds. The difference between the fastest and slowest execution speed for the first attempt is 1.6 seconds. The percentage of success for the first attempt is 90% (Table 05 ). Average execution speed for the second attempt is 3.24 seconds (Tables 03 and 09 ). The difference between the fastest and slowest execution speed for the second attempt is 1.07 seconds. The percentage of success for the second attempt is 80% (Table 06 ). Average execution speed for the third attempt is 3.76 seconds (Tables 04 and 10 ). We mention that the percentage of success for the third attempt is very low, only one of the seven athletes managing to lift the proposed weight and being ranked 3^rd (Table 06 ).

Conclusion

We believe that, on the one hand, the data obtained from this research will induce changes in the characteristics of athletic training performed by female weightlifters and, on the other hand, the differences between the values obtained by the Romanian athlete will become important landmarks in the specific training of women athletes from our country.

We have also found that each of the female athletes participating in the research has different execution speed, which requires a reconsideration of individualisation in the specific training.

After analysing the research results, some issues regarding execution speed in the snatch event have been highlighted, for instance: average execution speed for the three statutory attempts; average execution speed for each attempt; the ratio between the weight of the barbell and execution speed.

Concerning the results obtained in this research, we mention the following aspects: average execution speed for the first attempt is 3.26 sec.; average execution speed for the second attempt is 3.24 sec.

Increasing the weight of the barbell leads to increased execution speed.

The difference between the fastest and slowest execution speed is 1.77 sec.

Average execution speed for the three attempts is 3.42 sec.

References

1. AviSynth. (2014). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AviSynth
2. Dvorkin, L. S. (2005). Weightlifting (Textbook for high schools). Moscow: Sovetsky Sport.
3. Epuran, M. (2013). Motricitate și psihism în activitățile corporale. Prolegomene la o metateorie a activităților corporale (Vol. 2). București: FEST.
4. Platonov, V. N. (2015). Periodizarea antrenamentului sportiv: Teoria generală și aplicațiile ei practice. București: Discobolul.
5. Ulăreanu, M. V. (2014). Influența mijloacelor specifice asupra dinamicii formei sportive a halterofililor de performanță în ciclul anual de pregătire. București: Printech.
6. Urso, A. (2011). Weightlifting: Sport for all sports. Rome: Calzetti & Mariucci, EWF.