The first biomechanical analysis of a human patellar-tendon rupture during actual sports competition is reported. Cinematographic data for analysis were collected at a national weight-lifting championship. Dynamic equations to mathematically model the lifter were developed to compute time course and magnitudes of hip, knee and ankle-joint moments of force and of tensile loading of the patellar tendon before and during tendon trauma. Results provided evidence that the range of maximum tensile stress of the tendon may be considerably greater during rapid dynamic loading conditions, as in many sports situations, than maximum tensile stress obtained during static test conditions.