A new international study is calling into question long-standing assumptions about what makes elite sprinters so fast. The findings offer a fresh perspective that could reshape how Australia identifies and trains its next generation of speed athletes.
Published in Sports Medicine, the research looks at sprinting through a dynamical systems approach. Instead of pointing to one ideal running technique, it argues that speed develops from the interaction between an athlete’s body, their environment, and their training background.
Why Every Sprinter Moves Differently
The study was led by Flinders University, working with researchers from ALTIS, Johannes Gutenberg University, and Nord University. It shows that factors such as coordination, strength, limb mechanics, and individual physical traits all combine to influence how someone runs. This helps explain why elite sprinters can look very different from one another at top speed.
Lead author and Movement Scientist, Dr. Dylan Hicks from Flinders’ College of Education, Psychology and Social Work says the results challenge the long-held belief that all athletes should be coached toward a single technical model.
“For decades, sprint coaching has often been based on the belief that all athletes should move in one prescribed way,” says Dr. Hicks.
“But our research shows that sprinting is far more complex. The best athletes in the world don’t all run the same. What they share is not one technique but the ability to organize their bodies efficiently under pressure and that looks different for every sprinter.”
Gout Gout Shows the Power of Individual Strengths
One example highlighted in the study is rising Australian sprint talent Gout Gout. His stride length, power, and neuromuscular control set him apart.
Although he is often compared to Usain Bolt, the research stresses that his speed comes from his own physical and mechanical traits rather than copying another athlete.
“Gout Gout shows how individual characteristics can shape world-class speed in different ways,” says Dr. Hicks.
“His longer limbs, elastic qualities and remarkable coordination blend to produce the step patterns we see when he’s at full flight.
“You can’t coach another athlete to simply copy that. What you can do is understand the principles behind his coordination and create the right conditions for each athlete to find their own most effective version.”
Why Sprint Technique Naturally Changes
The researchers also explain that sprinting form is not fixed. It evolves as athletes accelerate, reach top speed, and begin to fatigue. These shifts are not flaws but a normal and necessary part of running at high speed.
In fact, the study suggests that movement variability, which has often been viewed as something to correct, actually helps athletes adapt and improve.
Rethinking How Coaches Train Sprinters
These insights could significantly change coaching methods. Rather than focusing heavily on repetitive drills, the researchers recommend creating training environments where athletes can experiment with different movement patterns.
Coaches can adjust factors like hurdle spacing, running surfaces, or rhythm to help athletes discover more efficient ways to move. Over time, this allows sprinters to develop techniques that suit their individual bodies.
“Great coaching is not about enforcing one template, it’s more about guiding an athlete to discover how their own body produces speed,” says Dr. Hicks.
“When we give athletes opportunities to problem-solve through movement, we open the door to more resilient and adaptable sprint performance.”
A New Path for Developing Future Sprint Talent
The researchers believe this approach could improve how Australia identifies and develops sprint talent. Instead of judging athletes against a fixed checklist of technical form, coaches could focus on how each individual naturally moves.
Dr. Hicks says this perspective may help explain the recent rise of promising Australian sprinters, including Lachlan Kennedy and Gout Gout.
“When an athlete is supported to move in a way that suits their structure, their strength profile and their natural rhythm, performance accelerates.
“We’re seeing what’s possible when individuality is embraced, not coached out,” he concludes.
The team hopes their work encourages wider discussion among coaches and provides a stronger, evidence-based framework for helping Australian sprinters compete at the highest level.
Open access funding was provided by Nord University.