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In sport, what makes a world-beater? Natural talent and motivation? Or does science decide who stands on the winner’s rostrum? It’s not just Formula 1 where technology is making its presence felt. Almost every sport is harnessing state-of-the-art scientific expertise to help push back the frontiers of performance.
In an age where the difference between success and failure is often measured in millimetres or thousandths of a second, using a more powerful racquet or wearing springier running shoes can give you a crucial advantage. But does this make sport more enjoyable to take part in – or to watch?
Living on the edge
If you followed the last Rugby World Cup, you probably noticed the new figure-hugging shirts worn by England and other teams. They are not just a fashion statement. They are the result of over two years development - and the players who wear them hope they deliver a competitive edge. The shirts are designed to be hardwearing but light and well-ventilated, and to snap back into shape when grabbed by an opponent, helping the wearer escape tackles.
This is just one instance of how science is being applied to sports. If you think innovative technology is no substitute for talent, try telling Bjorn Borg. When the legendary five-times Wimbledon tennis champion made a comeback using an old-fashioned wooden racquet – he was beaten by an unknown opponent using a modern graphite one!
What a racquet!
Science has brought big changes in tennis. Some of the latest racquets incorporate layers of Hyper Carbon TM, a material widely used in the aerospace industry. It is claimed that, as well as being lighter and more manoeuvrable, the racquets are stiffer and so provide more power than ‘conventional’ graphite or titanium ones.
When a tennis ball hits a racquet, it causes the molecules in the racquet to vibrate and some of the kinetic energy in the moving ball is lost as heat. In a Hyper Carbon TM racquet, the molecules vibrate less, so less energy is transformed into heat and the ball retains more of its kinetic energy – generating more power.
The down side of the trend towards greater power is the danger that matches will become serving contests without the long rallies that excite the. But again, perhaps science has the answer. The International Tennis Federation is looking at the possibility of using bigger tennis balls at Wimbledon which, because of their greater air resistance, would travel more slowly (see the The Secrets of Spin article in the sports section of www.noisenet.ws).
And in football, boot manufacturers spend huge sums on research to help them outpace their competitors by offering better control, power and grip. Recent years have also seen major advances in running shoe technology (see the Get a Grip! article in the sports section of www.noisenet.ws). Think too of the body suit worn by Australia’s swimming phenomenon Ian Thorpe, designed to reduce water resistance and shave vital fractions off his times.
Backroom boys
Innovative sportswear and more effective equipment represent just one part of technology’s contribution to sport. Around the world, scientists in fields ranging from nutrition to biomechanics (the study of the mechanics of muscular activity) are working to enhance performance. Computer packages help coaches improve their tactical thinking. Sports medicine speeds up recovery times. Computer models identify moves appropriate to individual gymnasts’ body types.
A project at Loughborough University, funded by EPSRC, has developed the ‘RespiVest’, which is designed to squeeze an athlete’s chest while they train, forcing the breathing muscles to work harder and become stronger. In another EPSRC-funded initiative, engineers at Cambridge University have created one of the world’s most sophisticated computer-based systems for analysing the flow of air and other fluids over surfaces. They have been working with Formula 1 teams to improve aerodynamic efficiency and make cars quicker. This has included analysing how drag (resistance to motion through air) can be reduced by changing the design of the car’s front wing.
The human factor
The influence of science, then, touches all areas of sport. But could people lose interest if sport’s winners seem to owe their success to the technology at their disposal? Will sporting events of the future simply tell us who has the smartest scientists?
There’s no doubt that technology can be decisive in evenly matched contests. In some cases, it may even help less talented sportsmen beat more talented ones. But note the use of the words ‘less talented’ rather than ‘talentless’. In sport, talent always has been and always will be a key factor (though by no means the only one). Not everyone can drive like Michael Schumacher or play football like Beckham, whatever their equipment, training facilities or motivation.
That is why leading Formula 1 teams pay huge money to attract the best drivers and the search for talented youngsters remains a top priority for the world’s biggest football clubs. You can never remove the human factor from sport – and this provides much of its fascination. Even a great team with great back-up can have a bad day.
Some final food for thought. Ethiopian runner Abebe Bikela once won an Olympic marathon running barefoot. Four years later, he successfully defended his title, this time in running shoes. He shaved three minutes off his previous time.
Talent and technology. Add dedication and you have the ideal sporting combination!
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