A GLOUCESTERSHIRE professor has returned from Tokyo after contributing to biomechanics research at the recent World Athletics Championships 2025, which took place from September 13 to September 21.

Professor Athanassios Bissas, Professor of Sport and Exercise Technologies at the University of Gloucestershire was involved in a project which focused on the pole vault, one of athletics’ most demanding events.

Clearing the bar requires precise timing and coordination, and at world-class level the smallest detail can decide success or failure. To study these fine margins, every jump at the Championships was recorded with four high-speed cameras and processed in 3D.

Professor Bissas, from the School of Education, Health and Science, said: “University of Gloucestershire is currently the only institution worldwide with access to this dataset, placing the University at the forefront of applied biomechanics research. This work is expected to demonstrate how biomechanics research can influence and improve the real world of sport.

“Importantly, students on our sport science courses will have the opportunity to work with this footage in their teaching sessions, developing technical skills and an appreciation of how biomechanics impacts performance at the very highest level.”

The system used an advanced AI pose estimation model, providing a unique advantage in accurately capturing the complex body positions of pole vaulters.

Within just four seconds of each jump, the system produced key statistics, an innovation barely imaginable a few years ago. These recordings included all attempts by the world’s leading athletes, most notably the new World Record of 6.30m set by Armand Duplantis on September 15 this year.

Professor Bissas will now lead advanced analysis of the dataset, breaking down movements to better understand world-class performance, with a particular focus on how Duplantis’ successful world record jump differed from his two earlier failed attempts at the same height.