Olympic athletes aren't just competing against each other.
They're competing against the air!
Every time we move, we have to push millions of air molecules
out of the way. Pushing these air molecules out of the way slows us
down a tiny bit. This is called drag.
For us, walking about every day, drag isn't a big deal. For
Olympic athletes, where microseconds count in the chase for medals,
drag is very important.
Runners and cyclists have to fight against drag from air
molecules. Swimmers have to fight against drag from water
molecules.
Coaches and sports scientists want to reduce drag to help their
athletes go faster. How do they do that?
Swimming
Swimsuits, caps and goggles are the most important pieces of kit
an Olympic swimmer has.
Swimsuit makers get their inspiration from animals that live in
the oceans.
These animals, like dolphins and sharks, are very streamlined.
They are adapted to reduce drag as they move through the water.
Speedo has created caps that fit exactly to their athlete's
heads.
The special caps have fewer wrinkles than a normal cap. This
makes the cap smoother and reduces drag, a bit like the smooth skin
on a dolphin.
Speedo's swimsuits use Lycra panels to squash the athlete's
fleshy areas - their thighs, bottom and chest. This makes the
athletes more streamlined and reduces drag.
Cycling
Like swimmers, cyclists were tight outfits called skinsuits.
These skinsuits are made especially for each athlete. This means
that there is less material for air molecules to press against and
cause drag.
Bikes are made out of very light material. You could lift them
with one hand!
The tubes aren't round, like normal bikes. Instead, they are
shaped like birds wings, pointing backwards in a V. This special
shape helps to push air molecules around the bike and reduces
drag.