SportFabrik in Differdange is a state‑of‑the‑art facility that shows how strategic investment and collaboration can position a small nation at the forefront of sports science. It houses three specialized biomechanics laboratories: a main lab with a 16-force-plate grid, a running lab, and a 50-meter sprint tunnel. The entire system integrates Qualisys motion capture with EMG systems, eye tracking, and force measurement into one unified platform.
“What is impressive about this project is the sheer size, the possibilities that the team has created,” notes Nils Betzler, Head of Product at Qualisys. “The 16 force plates all connect with the Qualisys motion capture system, creating one of the most comprehensive biomechanics installations in Europe.
SportFabrik represents a joint initiative by the Ministry of Sport, the City of Differdange, the Comité Olympique et Sportif Luxembourgeois (COSL) and the Luxembourg Olympic Medical Centre (CMOL).
Before the creation of SportFabrik, Luxembourg had no dedicated biomechanics laboratory for elite athletes. “There was no such thing as a biomechanics laboratory for high performing sports here in Luxembourg,” explains Prof. Dr. Jan Cabri, who previously lead the facility. This blank slate became an opportunity to build something exceptional and future‑focused.”
For Magaly Meynadier, SportFabrik offered a rare opportunity: the chance to determine whether her knee could still withstand the forces required for explosive, high‑intensity movements.
“My goal was, of course, to come back to my sport, basketball”, says Magaly.
“As a former Olympic swimmer, I can relate to the struggle every athlete has to get the best opportunities to improve”, says Alwin de Prins, Managing Director at the Luxembourg Institute for High Performance in Sports. “Young athletes, such as Magaly Meynadier, can benefit from SportFabrik with the best technological possibilities. Possibilities that didn’t exist in my time.”
The technical integration delivers measurable impact. “The cameras give you information about the kinematics,” explains the SportFabrik team. “On the other side, we have the kinetics measured by force plates.” This combination enables inverse dynamics calculations that determine exactly how much load is placed on each joint during movement.
“As a former Olympic swimmer, I can relate to the struggle every athlete has to get the best opportunities to improve. Young athletes can benefit from SportFabrik with the best technological possibilities. Possibilities that didn't exist in my time."
Alwin de Prins
IMMEDIATE RESULTS, COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
For elite athletes, marginal gains determine outcomes. “If you reach 1 to 2% improvement of their performance, we all shout, ‘Yeah!'” mentions Cabri, “That is the difference between winning or being second or third.”
SportFabrik’s closed feedback loop drives these improvements. “One of the unique things we see at SportFabrik is how they have a closed feedback loop where the data is collected with our system and the results are communicated directly with the coach and the athlete,” says Betzler. “That allows them to review the data while they remember exactly what they just did.”
This immediacy transforms how athletes train and recover. The facility serves dual purposes: enhancing performance and preventing injuries.
Luxembourg’s commitment to both infrastructure and expertise positions the facility as a competitive differentiator for the nation’s athletes and a model for similar investments across Europe.
SO WHAT HAPPENED TO MAGALY MEYNADIER?
Magaly continues to represent Luxembourg’s national team in European competition – as well as playing consistently in EuroCup Women and the German DBBL.
"When you want to have the highest scientific standard, you also need state-of-the-art equipment"
Prof. Dr. Jan Cabri