Innovative diagnostic methods in elite sport

Effective means to improve sport performance in elite sport are provided by the integrated application of modern information and communication technologies. Computer scientists and engineers cooperate with biomechanists, physiologists, sports psychologists and interdisciplinary development systems, which provide coaches and athletes with innovative and most efficient support as they identify and analyse performance indicators. Various sensors and devices are incorporated into the sport equipment or attached to the athlete. Mobile computers acquire and present the data recorded, other systems use telemetric methods to transmit the data acquire to receiving stations, which then process and adequately present them. Portable devices, which are not bound to laboratory conditions, are particularly useful. Systems of that kind have been developed for rowing, table tennis and biathlon. In the case of rowing, a system was constructed for recording and presenting relevant kinetic information during on-water and ergometer rowing. In the example of table tennis, two types of systems may be used for quantifying technical strength. The first variant is based on the detection of impact positions of the ball on the table, the second on the acquisition of ball impact intervals. A video based system was developed for tracking the muzzle of the rifle in biathlon shooting just before and immediately after the shot.