At this Winter Olympics, the Chinese team made its debut in the Nordic biathlon competition. What is less well known is that behind this competition, Zhang Dong, a postdoctoral fellow in the Sports Department of Tsinghua University, and Chen Conghang, a doctoral student at Tsinghua University, as the scientific research coaches and physical fitness coaches of China's Nordic national teams, issued nearly 400 scientific research analysis reports to provide technical support and training guidance for athletes.
Nordic biathlon includes ski jumping and cross-country skiing. Due to difficulties such as late start,Chinese athletes have never qualified for the Winter Olympics before the Winter Olympics. How to reach a speed of 100 kilometers per hour in ski jumping, how athletes can see their "subconscious movements" in a thousandth of a second... In order to help athletes prepare for the Winter Olympics, Zhang Dong and Chen Conghang insisted on accompanying athletes in the extremely cold training venue for more than 200 days, covering and monitoring various indicators of athlete training in an all-round way, shooting more than 4,000 training videos and conducting more than 500 video biomechanical analyses. Their belief is that they do not miss every detail of the action.
Zhang Dong filmed a video of the athletes on a cross-country skiing track
Chen Conghang filmed a ski jumping video
"If you think of the competition as a stir-fry dish, the scientific research guarantee is to customize the recipe and help the chef with the ingredients." Only when the recipes are accurate and scientific, the chef can have a better play. Zhang Dong said that before entering the Nordic two teams, the two planned and prepared a variety of scientific research programs in advance, but after entering the team, they still encountered many problems. For example, without professional cameras, Chen Conghang held up his mobile phone to shoot in extremely cold weather, and his hands were often frozen to the point of unconsciousness; without professional analysis equipment, Zhang Dong experimented again and again through free software and studied all night; after shooting training videos, they performed mechanical analysis of key videos through continuous playback and image decomposition, and did not let go of every frame.
Zhang Dong performs biochemical monitoring data recording and on-site analysis during off-road training
The two "digital coaches" also rely on the National Ski Jumping Research and Training Base and the Wind Tunnel Laboratory to conduct video biomechanical analysis of ski jumping and cross-country skiing training, three-dimensional motion capture and air resistance parameter evaluation of wind tunnel training, monitoring of cross-country skiing training functions, physical function training, etc., to help athletes find the optimal solution to drag reduction. "We guide athletes in training in the wind tunnel, looking for the best drag reduction posture for each athlete, and optimizing and correcting the posture." Zhang Dong said they shoot videos and make technical analysis reports, which can be reviewed and corrected by athletes and coaches, and the analysis reports can provide support for coaches and expert guidance. Proudly, in two months, the two increased the average flight distance of the athletes by 4 meters.
Chen Conghang instructs Zhao Jiawen in strength training
Chen Conghang is helping athletes analyze the effects of physical training techniques
In November 2021, China's Zhao Jiawen finished 22nd in the Intercontinental Cup, locking in a beijing winter olympic host. As the scientific research and physical coaches behind the athletes, Zhang Dong and Chen Conghang were very excited: "We believe in the power of science and technology, and it is a great honor to add a fire and a force to the team's way forward, hoping that China will make greater breakthroughs in winter sports, and the Chinese team will cheer!" ”