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Swifter, higher, stronger
 What
does it take to win a medal in the biggest sporting event - the Olympic
Games? You might say it is hard work, perseverance, preparation,
an attitude to win and, of course, the chance to participate in the
Games. But the crucial factor eventually is the technical elements
which have played a major role in the modern Olympics. And this will
make all the difference between winning a gold or a silver!
Technology and physics can be blended to
enhance an athlete's level of performance. One way is helping the
athlete to perfect his/her technique or by refining the equipment.
The modern Olympics has emerged into
a great force involving modern technology and science. It is no
more a case wherein physical endurance and mental stability is tested.
At the end of the day, it is purely the technical aspects that differentiate
between the better and the best athlete. No wonder, USA has
bagged more than 2000 medals in the Games so far.
 Gone
are the days when sprinters ran barefoot on the tracks. Now it is
the age of specialization. In developed countries, shoes are specially
designed to suit the athlete's feet. Firstly, the footprint of the
athlete is taken and then a mould is created. Finally, the mould
is designed and shaped in order to help the athlete get that extra
edge.
Lycra bodysuits, which help to reduce
wind resistance, are here to stay. Sports equipment manufacturing
companies like Nike, Reebok and Speedo spend millions
of dollars on research and development to come out with footwear and
swimsuits that save milliseconds, which would really matter, especially
in a 100m sprint.
 In
the modern Olympics, sprinters start from a crouching position,
pushing against starting blocks to help them accelerate. The disparity
between winning and losing is so minute that modern athletes have
to be timed as accurately as possible. Today's timing systems consist
of a clock, typically a quartz oscillator, a light source, and an
optical pickup device that stops the timer when the athlete cuts
the light beam. The timing devices developed today are accurate
within one-thousandth of a second.
Gymnasts, divers and trampolinists
are free to somersault, twist and slant within the constraints imposed
by angular momentum. Computer models of the body, which are based
on the equations of motion and conservation of angular momentum,
are now being used as a coaching aid. These simulations can identify
simple movements that can lead to better and complex somersaults.
 Swimmers
face a new set of challenges. In this sport, where one hundredth
of a second can make all the difference, success depends on minor
refinements. Sports scientists have developed a series of
experiments to measure the hydrodynamic forces on the body and hands.
In the Sydney Games 2000, you can see many swimmers wearing
a full-length swimsuit developed exclusively to reduce drag and
increase propulsion.
 Over
the years, pole-vaulting has scaled new heights. The lighter
and stronger glass-fibre poles replaced bamboo poles in 1960s, helping
the
pole-vaulters to extend themselves a few centimetres more. Today's
pole-vaulters do a complex gymnastic move, turning upside down as
the jump takes place.
 Adopting
the laws of physics, the javelin was modified by moving the
mass of the javelin to the centre. The modern javelin's length is
between 2.60-2.70m and has a mass of 800g. This way both the lift
and the drag is enhanced.
In sports like discus, hammer, shot put
or any other sport scheduled in the Olympic Games, state-of-art
technology is used to boost the performance of the athlete.
When the technology is available, why not
exploit it? Ultimately, it is the technologically well equipped
athlete who will have a positive chance of striking gold!
| J.Vinay |
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5:34:34 PM 
