Dr Nick Linthorne

BSc(Hons) Queensland, PhD Western Australia

Senior Lecturer (Sports Biomechanics)

Nick travelled to the world of sports biomechanics by way of experimental gravitational physics and astrophysics. He graduated with a BSc(Hons) from the University of Queensland where he worked with Frank Stacey and Gary Tuck on their controversial "fifth force" experiment. For his PhD studies he joined David Blair’s Gravity Wave Group at the University of Western Australia where he developed a cryogenic resonant bar gravitational radiation antenna.

Nick switched fields to sports biomechanics upon graduating, but to support his new interest he continued research with the Gravity Wave Group and was a lecturer in Physics and Biophysics. Later he was a Lecturer in Sports Biomechanics at the University of Sydney where he helped set up a new undergraduate degree in Exercise and Sport Science.

Nick joined the Department of Sport Science at Brunel University in 2003. He was particularly drawn to Brunel because of its High Performance Athletics Centre. Nick competed in the Australian championships in the pole vault and in the decathlon, and he was a Jumps Judge at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.  Nick is also a keen cyclist and is into strength training and gymnastics.

Teaching

• SP1038 Anatomy and Biomechanics
  
• SP2020 Biomechanical Analysis of Sport
  
• SP3039 Biomechanical Analysis Techniques
  
• SP5512 Biomechanics of Sport and Exercise

Research

• Biomechanics of Athletics
  
• Biomechanics of Football

Research Supervision

MSc:           Jason Davies
Honours:    Ashley Bryant, Shanie Page, Ben Rolfe, Michael Saad, Louis Sayers

Publications

Selected Publications

• Linthorne, N.P. and Weetman, A.H.G. (2012). Effect of run-up velocity on performance, kinematics, and energy exchanges in the pole vault. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 11 (2), 245-254. (Article from publisher).
• Linthorne, N.P. and Patel, D.S. (2011). Optimum projection angle for attaining maximum distance in a soccer punt kick. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 10 (1), 203-214. (Article from publisher).
• Linthorne, N.P. (2007). Design and materials in athletics. In Materials in Sports Equipment, Volume 2, A. Subic (Editor), Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge. pp. 296–320. (Publisher)
• Linthorne, N.P., Guzman, M.S. and Bridgett, L.A. (2005). Optimum take-off angle in the long jump. Journal of Sports Sciences, 23 (7), 703-712. (Article from publisher)
• Linthorne, N.P. (2001). Optimum release angle in the shot put. Journal of Sports Sciences, 19 (5), 359-372. (Article from publisher)

Administrative Duties

• Module Leader - SP3039 Biomechanical Analysis Techniques
• Module Leader - SP5512 Biomechanics of Sport and Exercise
• Library Services User Group - School Representative
• Sport Sciences Undergraduate Courses Committee - Member
• Sport Sciences Postgraduate Courses Committee - Member

Personal Stuff

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