- AIS
- Para Uplift
AIS teams combine expertise to support emerging Para sprinter
At just 14 years old, T62 sprinter Alex Mijailovic is already making his mark on the track, with a national record in the 400m and a string of impressive performances under his belt.
At just 14 years old, T62 sprinter Alex Mijailovic is already making his mark on the track, with a national record in the 400m and a string of impressive performances under his belt.
To help maximise his potential, Australian Athletics engaged the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) to optimise Mijailovic's running blade setup and support his progression.
That work brought Mijailovic to the AIS campus in Canberra where biomechanic specialists assessed two sets of running blades to better understand how they perform in motion.
“We use 3D motion capture to measure how the blades affect his movements and force plates to measure the force he applies to the ground,” said AIS Senior Biomechanist Daniel Cottam.
“By placing reflective markers on his running blades, we can understand how the blade deforms when it hits the ground and the energy return it provides.”
The data will inform further testing by AIS engineers, assessing the blades' weight loads and durability with continued monitoring over time.
AIS Senior Sports Engineer Matthew Crawford said the collaboration will help identify the most appropriate blade set-up as Mijailovic continues to develop.
“The engineering department’s testing complements the biomechanics testing. They tested Alex’s blades in a dynamic sense, and we are now doing some static testing, which will provide insights into the best set-up and next steps for Alex,” Crawford said.
The findings will help Mijailovic’s support team make informed equipment decisions to maximise performance potential and reduce injury risk, while also informing future running blade recommendations for other Para athletes coming through the system.
This type of targeted support is being strengthened through the national Para Uplift, an Australian Government-funded initiative to reduce barriers for Para athletes and build a more inclusive high performance system.
For athletes like Mijailovic, that means access to the right people, equipment and expertise at the right time as he builds towards future Games, including Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032.