How Olympic Athletes Hack Their Sports With Physics

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, WIRED MAGAZINE did their best to explain the astonishing science behind some of their favourite events.

01. TAKE A DIVE INTO THE PHYSICS OF DRAG

It still seems impossible that Katie Ledecky could win the 800m freestyle by almost half a lap, breaking her own world record. But the 19-year-old phenom blew through the entire field in this year’s swimming events. No one quite understands the secret to Ledecky’s dominance, but our look into the physics of drag and the challenge of reducing resistance can start to explain the meticulous focus and preparation it takes to be an Olympic swimmer.

2 HOW OLYMPIC GYMNASTS USE PHYSICS TO PULL OFF THOSE CRAZY TWISTS

It is magical to watch the 4’8 gold-medalist pull off The Biles, the gymnasts’ trademark double layout with a half turn. The power, the coordination, and the graceful landing are hard for mere mortals to understand. But Biles is not a superhero (at least so far as we know). In this video, learn about how the American gymnasts study takeoff and landing angles to pull off their amazing twists and flips.

3 THE RHYTHMIC EXPLOSION OF TRACK AND FIELD’S BEST

For 99 percent of racers, a slow start out of the blocks spells disaster. For Bolt, it just adds to his legend. The Fastest Man on Earth overtook American sprinter Justin Gatlin to become the first sprinter ever to capture three straight gold medals in the 100m (for good measure, he captured his third straight gold in the 200m four days later). Take a look at how world-class Olympic and Paralympic track-and-field competitors obsess over body positioning and rhythm to explode off the start line

4 THE PHYSICS BEHIND THE WILD WOBBLE OF BRADY ELLISON’S ARROWS

On top of drawing comparisons to Leonardo DiCaprio, American archer Brady Ellison found time to win silver and bronze medals at the Rio games. In this video, the bearded bowman along with archer Mackenzie Brown explain the flexibility, strength and body alignment necessary to compete with the world’s best in archery.

A mess of crashes knocked two-time defending gold medalist Māris Štrombergs, along with two other major competitors, from the Men’s BMX finals. American silver medalist Alise Post explains the sport as “survival of the fittest”—collisions are all but inevitable in the high-speed sport. In this video, we dive into the body alignment, leg explosion, and balance necessary to go 0-35 mph in just two seconds and then jump and (more importantly) land on the crowded course.