Technology and Science Play Big Role in Olympic Success
There’s no question that the Olympics bring together some of the greatest athletes in the world. The same can be said for any professional sport, really. These athletes are highly trained and specialized at what they do. Many have spent their entire lives working to get to the Olympics and perform on the world’s biggest stage. However, when it comes to Olympic success, the best athletes don’t necessarily always win. That’s because technology also plays a huge role in Olympic success; and that role is getting larger.
Tech Rules
Athletes from around the world train and prepare for the Olympics but often the difference in being on the podium and being left out in the cold is a tenth, or even a hundredth, of a second. Many times, the difference in those fractions of a second can come down to who had the best science and technology behind their performance. That is often determined by who has the most money.
The Down Side
There’s no question that technology has a huge upside in the Olympics as well as other big-time sports, but there is also a downside. Not every country has the same resources as every one else, which means those who can afford the best technological advances will continue to have advantages over countries who don’t have the resources. For example, one 19-year-old luger from Slovakia competed in a sled that at 22-years-old had been around longer than him. On the other hand, the team from Germany competed, and won gold, in a brand new sled designed by BMW.
The Upside
Although it might not be fair to everyone, technology’s influence on the Olympics isn’t going anywhere. Scientists and other developers will continue to make further advancements, which will no doubt continue to help athletes. We at Launch Pad also understand the benefit of technology, which is why we developed our advanced products to be the best ski training tools available. Learning to ski has never been easier thanks to these products.
Source: Gillette News Record, “Science, not muscle, driving many Olympic wins,” Feb. 15, 2014.