Tokyo Olympics 2021: How science helps runners break the historic 10-second barrier

Tokyo Olympics 2021: How science helps runners break the historic 10-second barrier
  • Fernando Duarte
  • BBC World Service

The men's 100m race finish in London 2012

attributed to him, Getty Images

Illustrative image,

The 2012 men’s 100m final in London, in which seven of the eight finalists were under 10 seconds, was a sign of things to come.

There was an earthquake at the world’s premier athletics event, but spectators at London’s Olympic Stadium for the 2012 Olympics may not have noticed.

Understandably, they were distracted by the sight of Usain Bolt flying across the finish line in the men’s 100m.

The Jamaican star won another gold medal that night and set an Olympic record of 9.63 seconds.

“It was one of the best races of all time,” explains Steve Hack, professor of sports engineering at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK.

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