Biomechanical Analysis of Sport Performance: A Comparative Study Between the Arab and World Champion in the 100-Meter Sprint for Women

Background Biomechanics provides essential insights into sprint performance by analyzing temporal and spatial characteristics of running. In the 100-meter sprint, coordination of body segments, stride length, stride frequency, and management of ground-contact and flight phases are critical factors influencing overall performance. Differences between national-level and world-class athletes highlight the need for detailed comparative analysis. Aims This study aimed to construct a biomechanical profile of the Arab youth champion and international youth sprinters in the women’s 100-meter sprint. The goal was to identify key differences in stride mechanics, temporal variables, velocities, and flight angles to inform targeted training strategies. Methods The study analyzed Egyptian sprinter Nour El-Gammal, gold medalist at the 9th Arab Athletics Championship for Youth (2023). Average biomechanical values of international youth sprinters were adopted from Chatzilazaridis et al. (2024). Sprint performance was recorded using eight high-speed GoPro Hero 9 cameras at 120 fps. Cameras were positioned to capture both fixed and three-dimensional motion over the 100-meter distance. A FullBody model with 20 anatomical landmarks was used to analyze the fastest stride cycle, digitizing stride length, stride frequency, ground-contact and flight times, horizontal and vertical velocities, and center-of-mass flight angle. Results The Arab champion showed superior ground-contact and flight times, higher stride frequency, and a lower flight angle, whereas international sprinters achieved longer stride lengths. Differences in braking and propulsion distances contributed to improved sprinting efficiency for the Arab athlete.