Yu Liu () is a researcher in sports biomechanics, a professor at Shanghai University of Sport, and a distinguished professor under the Ministry of Education's Changjiang Scholars Program. He led a project on technologies for optimizing winter sports athletes' skills, part of the National Key Research and Development Program's special initiative on science and technology for the Winter Olympics.
Education and career Liu was born in Zhangjiakou, Hebei, and began skiing while studying in Germany. He received his doctorate from the University of Frankfurt and subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at German Sport University Cologne. He has served as dean of the School of Kinesiology at Shanghai University of Sport and as president of the Asia Association of Coaching Science.
Research During preparations for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, the research team assembled by Liu provided training tests for ski jumpers. The team's rapid biomechanics feedback system combined three-dimensional motion capture, ultra-wideband positioning and speed measurement, and automated tracking equipment. It generated movement data within minutes of receiving the footage for coaches to use in analyzing technique.
In an interview with Renmin Zhoukan ("People's Weekly"), Liu said that the research team also used wearable devices to measure skiing speed and trajectories. The project supported China's national ski jumping, aerial skiing, and halfpipe teams.
References