Short-track Skaters Research Articles

ANALYSIS OF THE EVOLUTION OF JUNIOR A RESULTS FOR GIRLS IN ROMANIA AT SHORT TRACK COMPARED TO THE RESULTS OBTAINED BY TOP ATHLETES

The present study wants to highlight the level of progress and development of short track speed skating in Romania. The study I propose is based on the results obtained by the short track skaters at the National Championships in Romania, monitored for six years between 2014 and 2022. The 1st-3rd places were taken into account, being compared with the world records of that period to highlight the differences between the top results and those achieved at national level. The study was done at the Junior A women age level, the 500m, 1000m and 1500m competitions being targeted. From the data presented it can be seen that for the 1st place in ranking, the best result in the 500m race is achieved in 2017 with a time of 47.32 sec, and the worst result is 53 sec in 2022. The 1000m competition is characterized by various evolutions at the level of sportsmen in Romania, the best result achieved at the level of 1st place ranking being 1:51.60 min in 2021 compared to the worst that was obtained in 2015 with a time of 2:06.020. In the 1500m competition, 2021 is the year with the best result (2:57.12 min), and the worst result obtained at national championships was 3:20.00 min achieved in 2022. In the context presented above we can see a big difference compared to the world record, the biggest difference being 1:01.30 min in 2022 and the smallest being 32.20 sec in 2014. The poor results obtained last year are obvious, the 500m and 1500m competitions being the weakest of those presented, confirming the statement that, with the lack of funding and optimal training conditions, the motivation of the athletes decreases, the prolongation of this situation leading to the abandonment of the sport. Although the year 2022 is not characterized by the worst result obtained in the 1000 m race, it is noted that the trend is to increase the time obtained compared to 2016-2021.

Study of the psychomotor abilities of athletes in cyclic sports, martial arts and esports

Purpose: to conduct a comparative analysis of psychomotor abilities in athletes of cyclic sports (short track), martial arts (karate, taekwondo) and esports (CS:GO). Materials, participants and methods: The study involved athletes of percussion martial arts (n=10, age 18,9±0,12, candidates for master of sports), elite players of semi-professional CS:GO teams (n=10, age 19,2±0,50), short track speed skaters (n=10, age 19±0,09, masters of sports). The choice reaction time, the frequency of local movements (60-second tapping test), and the reaction time to a change in the size of the object (Size-test) were determined. Research results. Esports athletes have the best reaction time of choice and tapping test compared to other athletes. The wrestlers showed the best reaction to distinguishing the size of an object in the Size-Test. Skaters have high rates of complex reaction time and frequency of movements. The duration of the tapping test has a likely inverse relationship with the frequency of tapping. Conclusions. It was found that esports athletes have a significantly better choice reaction time (p<0,05) than martial arts athletes. The results of short track skaters do not have significant differences with martial arts and esports athletes (p>0.05). The results of the tapping test in terms of the total number of movements and the average number for 5 s in esports athletes tend to be higher compared to short track speed skaters and martial arts athletes. The fastest response time to a change in the size of an object in the Size-test was shown by martial arts athletes, the slowest by short-track skaters. This reflects the trend towards better results of this type of reaction in martial arts athletes compared to short track speed skaters and esports athletes.

Assessment of Asymmetrical Lower Limb Loading in the Short-Track Speed Skaters

Background. Short-track speed skaters who regularly participate in training are exposed to the occurrence of asymmetry in the lower limb loading. 
 Objective. The study aimed to assess the symmetry of the lower limb loading in short track skaters and the relationship between age, training experience and anthropometric variables and symmetry of lower limb loading.
 Methods. The examined group consisted of 20 short-track speed skaters (12 men and 8 women), and the control group comprised 28 university students (14 men and 14 women). Two scales were used to assess the symmetry of lower limb loading, and the lower limb's loading symmetry index (LSI) was calculated. 
 Results. In the studied groups 65% of skaters and 82% of students have LSI within the normal range. Most short-track speed skaters (85%) put weight on the right lower limb, and there was no clear trend among students (p < 0.001). In the group of skaters, the majority of men (83%) properly loaded their lower limbs, compared to 37.5% of women (p = 0.036). In short-track speed skaters, positive correlations were found between LSI and the age and length of training.
 Conclusions. Long-term asymmetric loading of the lower limbs in short-track speed skaters causes the advantage of the load on the right lower limb and increases the asymmetry of the load on the lower limbs, especially in women.

Pacing Behavior of Elite Youth Athletes: Analyzing 1500-m Short-Track Speed Skating.

To gain insight into the development of pacing behavior of youth athletes in 1500-m short-track speed-skating competition. Lap times and positioning of elite short-track skaters during the seasons 2011/2012-2015/2016 were analyzed (N = 9715). The participants were grouped into age groups: under 17 (U17), under 19 (U19), under 21 (U21), and senior. The difference between age groups, sexes, and stages of competition within each age group were analyzed through a multivariate analysis of variance (P < .05) of the relative section times (lap time as a percentage of total race time) per lap and by analyzing Kendall tau-b correlations between intermediate positioning and final ranking. The velocity distribution over the race differed between all age groups, explicitly during the first 4 laps (U17: 7.68% [0.80%], U19: 7.77% [0.81%], U21: 7.82% [0.81%], and senior: 7.80% [0.82%]) and laps 12, 13, and 14 (U17: 6.92% [0.14%], U19: 6.83% [0.13%], U21: 6.79% [0.14%], and senior: 6.69% [0.12%]). In all age groups, a difference in velocity distribution was found between the sexes and between finalists and nonfinalists. Positioning data demonstrated that youth skaters showed a higher correlation between intermediate position and final ranking in laps 10, 11, and 12 than seniors. Youth skaters displayed less conservative pacing behavior than seniors. The pacing behavior of youths, expressed in relative section times and positioning, changed throughout adolescence and came to resemble that of seniors. Pacing behavior and adequately responding to environmental cues in competition could therefore be seen as a self-regulatory skill that is under development throughout adolescence.

Objectifying Tactics: Athlete and Race Variability in Elite Short-Track Speed Skating.

To objectively capture and understand tactical considerations in a race, the authors explored whether race-to-race variation of an athlete and the variation of competitors within a race could provide insight into how and when athletes modify their pacing decisions in response to other competitors. Lap times of elite 500-, 1000-, and 1500-m short-track speed-skating competitions from 2011 to 2016 (N = 6965 races) were collected. Log-transformed lap and finishing times were analyzed with mixed linear models. To determine within-athlete race-to-race variability, athlete identity (between-athletes differences) and the residual (within-athlete race-to-race variation) were added as random effects. To determine race variability, race identity (between-races differences) and the residual (within-race variation) were added as random effects. Separate analyses were performed for each event. Within-athlete race-to-race variability of the finishing times increased with prolonged distance of the event (500-m, CV = 1.6%; 1000-m, CV = 2.8%; 1500-m, CV = 4.1%), mainly due to higher within-athlete race-to-race variability in the initial phase of 1000-m (3.3-6.9%) and 1500-m competitions (8.7-12.2%). During these early stages, within-race variability is relatively low in 1000-m (1.1-1.4%) and 1500-m (1.3-2.8%) competitions. The present study demonstrated how analyses of athlete and race variability could provide insight into tactical pacing decisions in sports where finishing position is emphasized over finishing time. The high variability of short-track skaters is a result of the decision to alter initial pacing behavior based on the behavior of other competitors in their race, emphasizing the importance of athlete-environment interactions in the context of pacing.

Multiplayer tracking system for short track speed skating

In this study, the authors propose a novel and effective short track speed skating tracking system. Aimed at several challenging tracking problems of short track skating: long‐time occlusion and complex group situations, size variations, similar or identical uniforms, fast motion speed, quick orientation changes etc.; a novel fuzzy model is proposed to initialise contours of skaters even they wear the same kind of uniform. Then, a novel approach for multiple object tracking is developed to track skaters reliably. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system can solve the above challenging problems very effectively. The information provided by the proposed system, including trajectories, velocity analysis and two‐dimensional reconstruction animations, is valuable to broadcasters, athletes and coaches alike. The proposed tracking algorithm can obtain better results than that by the other eight state‐of‐the‐art trackers in short track speed skating tracking.

Physiological and leukocyte subset responses to exercise and cold exposure in cold-acclimatized skaters.

We investigated physiological responses and changes in circulating immune cells following exercise in cold and thermoneutral conditions. Participants were short track skaters (n=9) who were acclimatized to cold conditions, and inline skaters (n=10) who were not acclimatized. All skaters were young, and skating at a recreational level three days per week for at least one year. Using a cross-over design, study variables were measured during 60 min of submaximal cycling (65% O2max) in cold (ambient temperature: 5±1°C, relative humidity: 41±9%) and thermoneutral conditions (ambient temperature: 21±1°C, relative humidity: 35±5%). Heart rate, blood lactate and tympanic temperature were measured at rest, during exercise and recovery. Plasma cortisol, calprotectin and circulating blood cell numbers were measured before and after 60 min of cold or thermoneutral conditions, and during recovery from exercise. Heart rate was lower in both groups during exercise in cold versus thermoneutral conditions (P<0.05). The increase in total leukocytes during recovery was primarily due to an increase in neutrophils in both groups. The cold-acclimatized group activated neutrophils after exercise in cold exposure, whereas the non-acclimatized group activated lymphocyte and cortisol after exercise in cold exposure. Lymphocyte subsets significantly changed in both groups over time during recovery as compared to rest. Immediately after exercise in both groups, CD16+ and CD69+ cells were elevated compared to rest or before exercise in both conditions. Acclimatization to exercise in the cold does not appear to influence exercise-induced immune changes in cold conditions, with the possible exception of neutrophils, lymphocytes and cortisol concentration.

Modeling of competitive activity of skilled athletes specialized at 1500 m distance on short-track skating

Background: Models of competitive activity at the 1500 m distance on short-track skating are developed on the basis of defining the relationship between sports results and major characteristics which describe speed of running at different parts of the distance. Material: we analyzed reports of competitions at the European and World Championships, World Cups 2007-2011. The dynamics of the speed finalists of the competition at the 1500 m - in hits (n = 33), quarterfinals (n = 34), semi-finals (n = 32) and finals (n = 39). Results: it was determined that for a distance of 1500 m short track skating is the most appropriate model with factors of influence: the speed of the first to sixth part of distance , the speed difference between the first and second half of the distance, time of the slowest circle, the difference between the time of the slowest and fastest circles. Conclusions: time of overcoming of distance will diminish at the rational change of model indexes. It will allow to increase possibility of output in the next circle of competitions and accordingly improve a place in final protocol.

Frequency of the various levels of anxiety and motivational condition among the speed skaters and short-track skaters during competitions of high significance

Frequency of the various levels of anxiety and motivational condition among the speed skaters and short-track skaters during competitions of high significance

The Comparative Analysis on Muscles of Short and Long Track Speed Skating Athletes

The knee and ankle muscle strength of excellent male skating athletes is measured and analyzed by Cybex isokinetic testing system. Based on the features of athletes’ muscles strength, the study aims to find if there are differences and shortages between long track and short track speed skating athletes and whether they can learn from each other in the training, then to make the further discussion on the event itself. The main conclusions are as follows: 1. In the index of maximum strength, the torque/BW features of knee and ankle of the short track athletes are more fit the law of skating event, while the long track athletes do good in low speed, but opposite in high speed. The long track skaters need to improve the strength in high speed. 2. In the index of flexor-extensor, both long and short-track are lower than the recommended values, especially the short track. The two groups need to improve the strength of flexor muscles and to keep balance and coordinate of knee muscles. 3. In the index of acceleration, the power values of long track skaters are higher than short track skater’s, except left extensor muscles. The left extensor muscles of long track skaters are lower than their right ones, and should improve the balance of both legs. The short track skaters need to improve the powers of left and right knees in all speeds.

Effects of Cold Environment Exposure and Cold Acclimatization on Exercise-Induced Salivary Cortisol Response

Considering the adverse effects of exercise-induced cortisol secretion on health in athletes, it is important to determine the environmental and individual factors that contribute to the variations in exercise-induced cortisol secretion. In this study, the effects of cold environment exposure and cold acclimatization on exercise-induced salivary cortisol responses were investigated. Short track skaters (n = 11), who usually practice under cold conditions, and inline skaters (n = 11), who usually practice under room temperature conditions, participated in a randomized crossover study. All participants cycled for 60 minutes at 65% Vo2 max under cold (ambient temperature: 5 +/- 1 degrees C, relative humidity 41% +/- 9%) and room temperature (ambient temperature: 21 +/- 1 degrees C, relative humidity 35% +/- 5%) conditions. The participants had a 120-minute bed rest recovery phase at room temperature after both exercise bouts. Cortisol levels were measured in saliva samples collected pre-exercise and postexercise at 1 minute, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and 120 minutes. Both short track and inline skaters exhibited clear cortisol responses to exercise under cold and room temperature conditions. The magnitude of the cortisol response, however, was different between skaters and conditions. The inline skaters exhibited significantly higher cortisol values under cold conditions than under room temperature conditions (7.6 nmol/L and 4.2 nmol/L, respectively). However, the short track skaters exhibited significantly higher cortisol values under cold conditions compared to room temperature conditions (8.7 nmol/L and 5.4 nmol/L, respectively). The effects of cold environment exposure on exercise-induced cortisol response were different between skaters who usually practice under cold or room temperature conditions. These results can be interpreted as acclimatization to either cold or room temperature conditions attenuating the cortisol response, suggesting that acclimatization may be beneficial in reducing the exercise-induced cortisol response.

Consequences of Drafting on Human Locomotion: Benefits on Sports Performance

In many endurance sports, a large part of an athlete's external power is used to overcome drag. This force has 3 components: friction, pressure, and, in swimming, wave drag. When the athlete's velocity is very low, friction drag dominates. In normal sports activities, pressure drag dominates, but frictional drag is influential in the velocity range in which the airstream changes from laminar to turbulent, which on the other hand depends on the roughness of the athlete's clothing. The term drafting is mainly used in sports physiology and biomechanics to describe the tactic of performing a mode of activity in a sheltered position. The growing success and impact of selected endurance sports in which athletes could take advantage of drafting has generated questions on the physiological characteristics and mechanisms regulating human locomotion in sports such as running, 1 cycling, 2 short-track skating, 3 swimming, 4 and triathlon. 5 An athlete who drafts continuously during a race might achieve a better final placing than would normally be expected with his or her individual physiological capacities. For this reason, many athletes attempt to position themselves behind athletes of the same or slightly better ability.

The Situational Sources of Stress and Coping Strategies for Elite Speed-Skaters and Short Track-Skaters

The Situational Sources of Stress and Coping Strategies for Elite Speed-Skaters and Short Track-Skaters

Effect of Cold Acclimation on Antioxidant Status in Cold Acclimated Skaters

We investigated whether cold acclimation leads to increased activity of the antioxidant defense enzymes and muscle injury. Comparisons were between short track skaters (n=6) and inline skaters (n=6) during rest and at submaximal cycling (65% VO2max) in cold (ambient temperature: 5+/-1 degrees C, relative humidity: 41+/-8%) and warm conditions (ambient temperature: 21+/-1 degrees C, relative humidity: 35+/-5%), during 60 min, respectively, and during the recovery phase. Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx), reduced glutathione (GSH), thiobarbituric substance acid (TBARS), serum creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), plasma myoglobin (Mb) and cortisol were determined. Activities of CAT and GSHpx and the level of GSH and TBARS in erythrocyte and the level of LDH in serum were elevated in cold acclimated subjects. We suggested that the compensatory increase in antioxidative defense enzymes resulting from long-term cold exposure may reflect the elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and muscle injury at this environment acclimation.

Comparison of Metabolic Substrates between Exercise and Cold Exposure in Skaters

To test the effect of a cold condition on metabolic substrate and possible development of muscle injuries, short track skaters (n=9) and inline skaters (n=10) took rest and submaximal cycled (65% V(.)O2max) in cold (ambient temperature: 5+/-1 degrees C, relative humidity: 41+/-8%) and warm conditions (ambient temperature: 21+/-1 degrees C, relative humidity: 35+/-5%), for 60 min, each. Blood glucose (BG), triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA), and total cholesterol (TC) were determined to investigate the effect on energy metabolism. To estimate possible muscle injury in the cold condition, creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and myoglobin (Mb) were also measured. TG and FFA levels were increased during exercise in the cold condition, but were unaffected by the difference of skaters. Of the myocellular enzymes, CK was significantly higher during the transition from submaximal exercise to recovery phase in a short track skater compared with inline skater group, indicating a higher physical strain. Additionally, the level of Mb in the inline skater group significantly elevated during recovery phase in the cold compared with in the warm condition. It is concluded that exercise caused stress that was dependent on the ambient temperature. Therefore, exercise in the cold condition altered the circulating level of energy substrate and increased muscle injuries.