NSA Photosequence 17: 200 metres. Florence Griffith-Joyner. Commentary Leo Davis. Sequence by Helmar Hommel (rc^hnmmel AVS 199(1)

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1 [p^ ö by IAAF 6:2; NSA Photosequence 17: 200 metres Florence Griffith-Joyner Sequence by Helmar Hommel (rc^hnmmel AVS 199(1) The sequence shows Florence Griffith-Joxner on ihe home straighl ol' the first semi-final of the 200 meires al Ihe Games of the XXiVUi Olympiad, Seoul, She won the race in a World Record ot" Florence Ciriflllh-Joyner (LIS.4) Born: 21 December 1961 Heighl: 1.70m Weighl: Best marks:.^9 kg 100 tnelres sec. (WR) 200 metres sec, (WR) World Record holder and Olympic Champion 100 metres and 200 metres Commentary Leo Davis /,('(( Davis is a.sprinis coach, ctmsullant ami.specialist in kinesiology who has wor-ked wilh various nutioiutl leams and such ftimous athleles as Donald Quarrie. John Carlos. Lennox Miller and James Gilkes. Having compleied the bend of the first semi-final ofthe 200 meires at the Games of the XXIVih Olympiad. Seoul, 1988, Florence Griffith-Joyner is shown in the home straighl in this sequence. 1 In photo line, her left knee is fiexed so thai her heel almosl reaches her gluieal region (this is known as 'back lift'). Her right fool plant on the track is alniost Hal. and her right knee is barely Hexed. Her righl hand is at her waisl. and her body quile ereci. poised for the dri\e. 2 1 he second photo finds Griffith-Joyner rolling off her right fool, flexing ihe righl knee a liule ini>re and bringing her right arm forward benl al a righl angle. In the same motion, as she has not yet achieved a high knee-lift, her well-tlexed lefl knee Is forward, in co-ordination with her righl ami. Note ihal she tnainiains an erecl body position throughout. The pectineal and

2 illiopsoas mu'^cles are not being used at this suige. E\idenll>- only the hanisirings. i tiadriceps. and intrinsic muscles oi her lower extremities are employed. Her right arm suggests a great amount of slrength running, instead of rttnning wilh lightness and finesse. At this point the aihleie should be loose, but instead is showing a high degree of muscle lension and stress. 3 In lhc third photo, she has rolled on her right loot to her toes. It appears that the gluteal muscles are Hexing the hip. showing her power. There seems to be a little more lordosis in the htwer back due '.o the exaggerated force of chest and arms. The posiiion of her lefl arm and her body lift is ideal for the kind of dri\e and body angle thai she is tiiili/ing. 4 In the fourth pholo Griffith-Joyner i.s shown in thc reco\ery or Highl phase. The adductors in her left ihigh are very strongly delitiealed. Note that she has some rolalion of the lefl fool lowards the mid-line. Her siride is now opening oul. and she is about lo extend with lull power, with the left hip and knee high and at ihe correct angle. Her arms are working with extra vigour, producing a true work of art. wilh every muscle in the upper body crealing more speed, 1 ler trail leg is lhc \er\' essence of muscle strength deveiopmeni and energy, 5 In the fifth photo Griffith-Joyner is slill mid-way ihrough the recovery phase - her lead leg is siraighlening as il sweeps forcefully down and back - and her arm appears lo ha\e reached ils cxireme position behind her bodv. The spent power of her lower righl leg is quite noticeable, and ihe hamstring muscles are beginning to contract. Heradductorsshow unusual lension al a lime when ihev should be relaxeil. However, her muscles arc buill more lor K>wer than llcxibility. and this build up in muscle tension is best seen in bend running. Whatever abnormalily one may see in her biomechanies seems lo be compensated by the power evident in ihe muscles of her upper arms, back and legs. 6 In phou> 6 the athlele is beginning to flex her right knee so thai her fooi is Hearing her bullocks and her right leg t Li)lc relaxed. She is beginning lo swing her right arm backwards. Her left leg is extending tow ards the track in anattiral manner so that it appears to indicate a heel landing, Her arm aclion. al ihis momenl. does not indicate a greal deal of hallislic reaciion or quick bounce ofthe shoidders. 7 Photo 7 reveals a progression from ihe pre\ions frame, with more Hexion of ihe righl knee and w ith the right arm straightening a liule as it moves back. Her left loot appears to be planted fiat on the track. Her arm action here indicales that her legs will dictate power, rhylhm. and speed ralher than be sniot)ihl> s\nchroni/ed wiih an etficient arm aclion. Ne\ertheless. she is uitli/ing all the slrength she can mu.sier in order to produce an effective, personal, efficient angle of drive. 8 Here Griffith-Joyncr's right heel is near her bullocks and tlcxion is almosl complele. Her forearm is parallel to her righl thigh. It appears to me that the foot of her drive leg is directly below her centre of graviiy. She has to proiluce more power in order lo conipcnsale for any deficiency in running style. 9 In the ninth photo, her right knee is well fiexed and lilted in preparation for the repetition of the runing cycle. Her left fool is rolling onu) ihe toes, anil her lefi arm is in an aggressive and advanlageous angle oi efficiency (90"). swinging forward. With such an angle of thc left arm. the righl leg is in thc desired posiiion ft>r launching an effective. pov\erful. and quick hip reaction. 10 fhe tenth photo shows Griffith-Joyncr's characteristic high knee lift lo its greatest effecl. demonsiraiing her tremendous drive. Because of this, she should produce her best sprint stride, allhough the posiiion of her right arm restricts an even more etficient driving angle. 73

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5 11 In the eleventh pholo. she is beginning to repeal the cycle. She appears lo be leaning more towards her lefi side, as her head is lowered more than usual. She isnot as erect as in previous frames. 12 The twelfih photo is a repelilion ofthe sixth, but IVom the other side. Her arms are held at an angle of about 90" and her left leg is beginning lo Hex. This type of mo\emenl is now- producing an elongated siride. w hich gives the impression oi effecting a pulling action and calling on her hanisirings and gluieal muscles to do extraheavy-duty work in order to produce the desired indi\idual drive aclion. 13 Still airbt)rne. in the thirteenth pholo; her righl knee is completei> extended. Her right arm is starling lo move forward again. The lefl leg is bent ai abt)ul 90" and she is about It) put into gear her powerful, low left hip and leg action. 14 In the fourteenth pholo the right foot is slightly everted and the left foot is close lo her buttocks, giving an efficient shori lever. 15 In the ni'ieenih pholo. the right fool is plained fiat on the track with her righl knee slightly fiexed. This is the reverse of pholo 8, The right arm is now level wiih the waisl and is beginning lo fiex (ralher lale) forthe forward swing. In liming with ihis. the lefl leg is being brought ihrtuigh well flexed. Her body weight is strongly supported by her pelvis and logs. In this frame the alhlete shows a momenl of relaxation as she realizes Ihe race is won. D 76