Hey there, it’s Raj from 3CB.
Borussia Dortmund and Norwegian international rising star Erling Braut Haaland has a very
distinctive running form (aka running gait) that works quite well for him with his top
speed clocked at 36 kph (22.4 mph), nearly that of Gareth Bale who’s been clocked at
36.9 kph (22.9 mph)
In this video, I’ll break down Haaland’s peculiar running gait & how it relates to
his elite speed.
What really sticks out with Haaland’s running style is his upper body.
It’s very similar to a sprinter coming out of the blocks.
However, as he comes out of that position, things get unorthodox.
Unlike the upper body, Erlin’s lower body is far more similar to the prototypical sprinter’s technique.
Even though Erling’s upper body running form is atypical, his arms and legs synchronize
and coordinate intricately - a key characteristic in elite sprinters.
Haaland’s case illustrates beautifully that optimizing movement mechanics isn’t a one
size fits all approach. Case in point is Usain Bolt whose right leg - according to in-depth
research by Southern Methodist University (SMU) researchers in Dallas, Texas - generates
a 13% higher peak force than his left when it strikes the ground and his left leg stays
in contact with the ground for about 14% longer than his right, possibly due to scoliosis
(abnormal curvature of the spine). Bolt’s body compensated around that structural change,
to the tune of 19 Olympic and World Championship gold medals.
Accordingly, Erling’s body has done the same, creating a structure that maintains
certain foundational principles while adapting to his unique variables...and Haaland is certainly unique
That’s a wrap for this video. Thanks for watching. My goal is to provide you with in-depth,
evidence based, narrative free analysis and you can always find me on IG and Twitter @3CBPerformance.
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