Dr Manuel Varlet talks Usain Bolt and synchronicity

A recent study conducted by Dr Manuel Varlet suggests that sprinter Usain Bolt might actually gain a benefit from running in step with his competitors.

The study was conducted with Associate Professor Michael J. Richardson and published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance.

Dr Varlet discussed the findings in a recent article published in The Conversation. The study surprisingly found that the steps of Bolt in the 2009 final in Berlin were synchronised with the steps of second-placed Tyson Gay, running just to his right.

"Using a frame-by-frame video analysis, the study shows that almost 30 per cent of Bolt's and Gay's steps were synchronised, pounding the track at the same time," said Dr Varlet.

"Overall, Bolt took 41 steps whereas Gay took 45 to 46 steps during the final, so such a high percentage of synchronised steps was unexpected. However, the study suggests that this synchrony was no accident, nor was it inconsequential. It was a greater level of the synchrony than occurred during the semi-finals, where the two sprinters ran separately."

"Instead, it seems that there was an active process of synchronisation between Bolt and Gay during the final, perhaps coupled by visual and/or auditory information, which led to more coordinated strides."

Dr Varlet's full article on The Conversation can be read here.