Take Advantage of Equipment

Athletes for years have made huge advancements every year. In 1954 Sir Roger Bannister was the first man to ever run the mile under 4 minutes. Nowadays college athletes can perform that feat quit often, and even high school athletes might be able to achieve it every once in awhile. Currently over 1000 men have ran the mile in under 4 minutes. Is this because the human body has evolved and advanced to an athletic level beyond what was possible in 1954? While I do believe that human bodies have become slightly more athletic, I believe that it is the equipment that is used to train and perform for the athletes that have made this improvement. Sir Roger Bannister had to run his mile on soft cinders (the ash from burnt wood) which absorbed much more energy from his legs than current athletes today. Imagine if Bannister and his fellow athletes had the surface to run upon and the shoes that current athletes have today. With a much less soft surface that gives away to help propel the athletes down the track instead of the soft surface that once was, many more athletes might have been able to achieve what once was such a difficult feat. An example of how equipment has changed sports is: “At the beginning of the twentieth century, most swimsuits were made of heavy, woolen knitted materials, which pulled and slowed swimmers down almost as soon as they entered the water. Swimsuits are now made out of polyurethane, which decreases the amount of friction between the swimmer’s body and the water, so much so that in 2009 when these suits were first unveiled, 168 world records were broken.”1.

Athletes now have access to high tech film sessions which can break down every single movement they might do wrong, or every single weakness a defense might have. Athletes can now go into a weight room with a master strength coach and have access to multiple weight equipment specifically designed to make them jump higher, or run faster. If an athlete is going to become successful at any level they have to learn how to use every piece of equipment that is provided for them. “Advances in sports equipment have undoubtedly played a role in the achievement of these athletes in their respective fields.”2.

References

Seemingly superhuman: technology’s impact on sports

Published on the website http://thevarsity.ca/2014/09/21/seemingly-superhuman-technologys-impact-on-sports/ by Kasi Sewraj in 2014

Have technological advances in sports such as tennis, golf, and track and field supplanted the athletic achievements of the participants in those sports?

Published on the website http://www.scienceclarified.com/dispute/Vol-1/Have-technological-advances-in-sports-such-as-tennis-golf-and-track-and-field-supplanted-the-athletic-achievements-of-the-participants-in-those-sports.html by Peter Andrews