Professor M R (Fred) Yeadon

  • Emeritus Professor of Computer Simulation in Sport

Fred Yeadon graduated in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge in 1968 and, after a number of years teaching mathematics, obtained his PhD in Biomechanics from Loughborough University in 1985. He then took up a biomechanics position at the University of Calgary and in 1990 returned to Loughborough University where he is currently Emeritus Professor of Computer Simulation in Sport.

Fred has received awards from the International Society of Biomechanics, the American Society of Biomechanics, and the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports for his research on the computer simulation of twisting somersaults and continues to research in this area and to provide practical advice to gymnasts, divers, trampolinists and freestyle aerial skiers.

Other research interests include the computer simulation of gymnastics, high jumping, and diving, and the control of sports movements.

Selected Research Projects and Sources of Funding

  • Biomechanics of elite gymnastics skills. British Gymnastics, £326,000. October 2001 - September 2011.
  • National Gymnastics Performance and Research Centre. Science Research Investment Fund, £1,160,000. July 2001 - March 2004.
  • “Aerial Movement: control, optimisation and limits of performance”.  Invited Lecture, International Society of Biomechanics Congress, Calgary, 31 July - 4 August 2019
  • “Sports Biomechanics Research: Ideas and Investigations”.  Jim Hay Memorial Lecture, World Congress of Biomechanics, Boston, 6 – 11 July 2014
  • “Optimal technique, variability, control, and skilled performance”.  Invited keynote lecture for the 31st Conference of the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports, Taipei, 7 – 11 July 2013
  • "Computer simulation of sport: insight, optimisation and application".  Invited keynote lecture for The XXIII Congress of the "International Society of Biomechanics, Brussels, 3 - 7 July 2011.
  • “Applications of Modelling to the Improvement of Sports Techniques”.  Invited keynote lecture for the Sport Innovation Summit, Ottawa, 18 – 19 November 2010
  • Applications of computer simulation in sport". Invited keynote lecture for the 12th International Symposium on Computer Simulation in Biomechanics, Cape Town, South Africa, 2 - 4 July 2009.
  • "The uses of computer simulation for improving sports performance". Invited keynote lecture for XXX FIMS World Congress of Sports Medicine, Barcelona, Spain, 18 - 23 November 2008.
  • "Applications of modelling to the improvement of sports technique". Geoffrey Dyson Lecture for the 26th Conference of the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports, Seoul, South Korea, 14 - 18 July 2008.
  • "Computer simulation of gymnastics skills". Invited keynote lecture for Association Francaise de Recherche en Activites Gymniques et Acrobatiques 5th International Conference, Tunis, Tunisia, 11 - 13 April 2005.
  • "Computer simulation of optimum sports performance". Invited keynote lecture for German Sport Science Convention, Muenster, Germany, 21 - 23 September 2003

Awards

  • 2014  Jim Hay Memorial Award for Research in Sports and Exercise Biomechanics, American Society of Biomechanics
  • 2011 Honorary Membership, International Society of Biomechanics.
  • 2008 Geoffrey Dyson Award, International Society of Biomechanics in Sports.
  • 2002 Academic Challenge Award, Technical University of Munich.

Featured publications