All the right moves
- UdeMNouvelles
08/12/2024
- Jeff Heinrich
Sophiane Méthot
Credit: Gymnastics Canada/Graham Dodd
UdeM PhD student Eve Charbonneau explains how her hands-on biomechanics research helped Canadian athlete Sophiane Méthot win a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.
In early August, watching Canadian trampolinist Sophiane Méthot bounce, twist and twirl her way to a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, Eve Charbonneau knew she'd done her research right.
A doctoral student in biomedical engineering at Université de Montréal, Charbonneau worked for years with Méthot and other Gymnastics Canada athletes to optimize their technique on the trampoline.
Funded by the national non-profit Mitacs and by Own the Podium, she put the athletes through a series of tests using body sensors, building 3D computer models of their acrobatics in the air so they could learn where to improve.
This paid off on August 2 at the Bercy arena in Paris: on the eve of her 26th birthday, Varennes-born Méthot nailed her performance in the final, becoming the eighth Canadian woman to win an Olympic medal in trampoline since the sport was added to the Sydney Games in 2000.
The hard work also paid off for Charbonneau: just days before Méthot's victory, she submitted a 323-page thesis, incorporating her research into trampoline acrobatics, for a PhD in biomedical engineering.
We asked Charbonneau to tell us about the innovative science that led to Olympic success.
First of all, what got you interested in biomechanics? Have you practiced trampolining yourself?
Yes, I was a trampolinist for almost 10 years when I was younger. I used to train with Sophiane. Trampolining is a very technical sport where several factors have to be taken into account to determine the best technique to use. So I became interested in biomechanics while I was still an athlete. I needed to understand acrobatics first, so the transition to biomechanics research was a natural one, as it allowed me to combine two of my passions: physics and trampolining.
How did you go about working with Sophiane Méthot and the other athletes?
I've worked with the Canadian trampoline team throughout this Olympic cycle as a biomechanist. My role is not to coach them; they have an excellent coach for that. Rather, my role is to help the athletes correct mistakes they keep repeating. At their level of practice, athletes generally have good enough control of their bodies to make modifications to their movements. When things go wrong and they can't do it, it's often because the movements they're trying to modify are biomechanically useful: they allow them to turn faster, for example. My role is to find another way of having them achieve the same acrobatic result without being penalized by the judges. Let's say, for example, that Sophiane has an arm sticking out in the middle of her movement, which results in a deduction of 0.1 points. I could, for example, advise her to twist by making a wider movement with her legs.
How did the athletes react to your interventions?
I've been really lucky: the athletes have trusted me, even though sometimes my suggestions for techniques are different from what they're used to hearing. Sometimes I can see in their faces that they think my ideas are strange, but through discussion we always come up with a solution that works and that they're comfortable trying. It's super satisfying when I manage to help them correct a flaw they've been working a long time to correct without success. They're usually very grateful then.
What went through your mind when you saw Sophiane perform the exercise that won her the bronze medal?
At the time, I was analyzing every technical detail we'd been working on. Then when we found out she'd won bronze, I was so happy for her. She's been working for this for years and she deserves it so much.
You've just submitted your doctoral thesis. That must be a great relief!
Yes, it's a big step. But I'm passionate about research and already have other projects in the pipeline.
More studies, then?
Yes, I'm going to continue with a post-doctorate. But before I do, over the next few months I'll be meeting with Canadian coaches and other biomechanics experts to share the results of my doctoral research. I'd like to pass on as much of the expertise I've acquired in aerial acrobatics as I can, to help our athletes in other sports, things like diving, gymnastics and freestyle skiing.
