Author(s): GOTO, H., KAGEYUKI, T., MATSUBAYASHI, T., Institution: JAPAN INSTITUTE OF SPORTS SCIENCES, Country: JAPAN, Abstract-ID: 1223

INTRODUCTION:
Wheelchair racers’ biomechanical and physiological characteristics are distinct from those of able-bodied athletes. While able-bodied sprinters typically reach maximal velocity around 60 m, wheelchair racers continue accelerating beyond 100 m [1]. When comparing world records, able-bodied athletes show a decline in mean race velocity beyond 400 m, whereas wheelchair racers maintain nearly constant velocity over longer distances [2]. Notably, several elite wheelchair athletes have medaled in multiple events at international competitions. Although most prior studies have focused on 100-m events, velocity profiles in longer-distance events may provide insights into high performance. This study aimed to investigate velocity profiles in 400-, 800-, and 1500-m wheelchair races using publicly available data and identify velocity characteristics associated with high performance.
METHODS:
Official results from the 2024 and 2025 Para Athletics World Championships were analyzed. Finish times and 100-m lap times were obtained for 222 male and female T54-class athletes across 400-, 800-, and 1500-m. Mean race velocity and 100-m segmental velocities were calculated, and peak segmental velocity was identified for each athlete. Kruskal–Wallis tests were used to compare mean and peak velocities across events for each sex. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients (ρ) were calculated to assess relationships between finish time and peak velocity within each event.
RESULTS:
Peak velocities were typically observed in the 100–200 m segment in the 400-m, the final 100 m in the 800-m, and the final lap in the 1500-m. Peak velocity in men and women was significantly lower in the 800‑m than in the other events, whereas values in the 1500-m were comparable to those in the 400-m. Mean velocity differed significantly only for women, with higher values in the 400-m than in the 800-m. Finish time showed a meaningful negative correlation with peak velocity in most events (ρ = −0.33 to −0.92).
CONCLUSION:
In the 400-m, the location of peak velocity, occurring between 100–200 m, resembled that observed in able-bodied sprinting; however, the subsequent deceleration was less pronounced in wheelchair racers. This may reflect the rolling nature of wheelchair wheels, allowing velocity to be maintained more effectively despite fatigue-induced reductions in propulsive force. Unlike the 400-m, conducted in designated lanes, the 800-m and 1500-m allow group racing in open lanes, potentially reducing aerodynamic drag through drafting. This aerodynamic advantage may have contributed to the similar peak velocities in the 1500-m and 400-m. This study demonstrated that high performance in T54 wheelchair racing is associated with achieving high peak velocity across all distances examined. For success in middle-distance events and multiple-medal performance, developing sprinter-level velocities appears essential in addition to endurance capacity.
1. Barbosa and Coelho, 2017
2. Heazlewood and Walsh, 2021