Video: How Olympic Athletes Hack Their Sports With Physics
Besides being the birthplace of #Phelpsface, the Green Pool, and the mainstreamification of cupping, the 2016 Rio Olympic Games were also home—wonder of wonders!—to some incredible athletic feats. Though Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, and Usain Bolt’s performances seem to defy physics, we at WIRED did our best to explain the astonishing science behind some of our favorite events.
- 01
Take a Dive Into the Physics of Drag
It still seems impossible that Katie Ledecky could win the 800m freestyle by almost half a lap, breaking her own world record. But the 19-year-old phenom blew through the entire field in this year’s swimming events. No one quite understands the secret to Ledecky's dominance, but our look into the physics of drag and the challenge of reducing resistance can start to explain the meticulous focus and preparation it takes to be an Olympic swimmer.What does it take to be an Olympic gold medalist? WIRED takes in-depth look at the mechanics behind the athletes featuring Conor Dwyer, Elizabeth Biesel, Matt Grevers, Nathan Adrian, Rayler Clary, and Ryan Lochte.
- 02
How Olympic Gymnasts Use Physics to Pull Off Those Crazy Twists
It is magical to watch the 4'8 gold-medalist pull off The Biles, the gymnasts' trademark double layout with a half turn. The power, the coordination, and the graceful landing are hard for mere mortals to understand. But Biles is not a superhero (at least so far as we know). In this video, learn about how the American gymnasts study takeoff and landing angles to pull off their amazing twists and flips.Charlotte Drury, Maggie Nichols, and Aly Raisman talk to WIRED about the skill, precision, and control they employ when performing various Gymnastic moves and when training for the Olympics.
- 03
The Rhythmic Explosion of Track and Field's Best
For 99 percent of racers, a slow start out of the blocks spells disaster. For Bolt, it just adds to his legend. The Fastest Man on Earth overtook American sprinter Justin Gatlin to become the first sprinter ever to capture three straight gold medals in the 100m (for good measure, he captured his third straight gold in the 200m four days later). Take a look at how world-class Olympic and Paralympic track-and-field competitors obsess over body positioning and rhythm to explode off the start line.What does it take to be an Olympic sprinter? Power and aggression. WIRED talks to Allyson Felix, Lashawn Merritt, Ashton Eaton, Jarryd Wallace, and Dawn Harper about the science behind the sport, and the mechanics behind propelling their bodies from the blocks to the finish line.
- 04
The Physics Behind the Wild Wobble of Brady Ellison’s Arrows
On top of drawing [comparisons to Leonardo DiCaprio](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rio-olympics-leonardo-dicaprio-doppelganger-919312), American archer Brady Ellison found time to win silver and bronze medals at the Rio games. In this video, the bearded bowman along with archer Mackenzie Brown explain the flexibility, strength and body alignment necessary to compete with the world’s best in archery.WIRED takes an in-depth look at the science and mathematics behind Olympic Archery with Brady Ellison and Mackenzie Brown.
- 05
The High-Speed Physics of Olympic BMX
A mess of crashes knocked two-time defending gold medalist Māris Štrombergs, along with two other major competitors, from the Men's BMX finals. American silver medalist Alise Post explains the sport as "survival of the fittest"—collisions are all but inevitable in the high-speed sport. In this video, we dive into the body alignment, leg explosion, and balance necessary to go 0-35 mph in just two seconds and then jump and (more importantly) land on the crowded course.WIRED explores the science behind what it really takes to be an olympic BMX athlete, featuring Alise Post and Connor Fields.
