Science

Video: How Olympic Athletes Hack Their Sports With Physics

Five videos to understand the incredible science that went into preparing for the 2016 Olympic Games.

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.

  • Take a Dive Into the Physics of Drag

    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.

  • How Olympic Gymnasts Use Physics to Pull Off Those Crazy Twists

    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.

  • The Rhythmic Explosion of Track and Field's Best

    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.

  • The Physics Behind the Wild Wobble of Brady Ellison’s Arrows

    WIRED takes an in-depth look at the science and mathematics behind Olympic Archery with Brady Ellison and Mackenzie Brown.

  • The High-Speed Physics of Olympic BMX

    WIRED explores the science behind what it really takes to be an olympic BMX athlete, featuring Alise Post and Connor Fields.

Joseph Bien-Kahn is a writer and editor based in Los Angeles. ... Read More
Topicsolympicsphysics