02/21/2014

Olympians Look to Science for a Competitive Edge

6:55 minutes

Olympic races can come down to a hundredth of a second. Athletes and coaches are looking to scientists to capture those precious moments. Physiologist and aerospace engineer Troy Flanagan gives a tour of the science behind Olympic training.

More more stories in SciFri’s Olympic series, check out:
In Wind Tunnels, Ski Jumpers Become Flying Machines
For Some Olympians, Winning Medals Is All About Flow
Crafting ‘the Fastest Ice on Earth’
Ice Science a Slippery Quandary for Physicists

Thanks to KUER for their help on this Olympic series.

Segment Guests

Troy Flanagan

Troy Flanagan is high performance manager at the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association’s Center of Excellence in Park City, Utah.

Meet the Producer

About Alexa Lim

Alexa Lim was a senior producer for Science Friday. Her favorite stories involve space, sound, and strange animal discoveries.

Explore More

Letting the Inner Athlete Shine, With a Techno-Boost

For Olympians, there's interplay between natural athletic ability and suits that provide that extra edge.

Read More