TOTW: The Sochi Winter Olympics, And Tech

Every two years, the very best athletes from all over the world converge in one place, to compete for the famed gold medal in their event. These people dedicate their lives to their sport, whether it javelin or figure skating. Their whole lives, everyday, non stop, they train for this 18 day event, which they can only do 3 or 4 times ever. So, as you would expect, they would need the best advantages they can get, without cheating. The best solution: technology.

Before the athletes even get to compete, they obviously have to make the long trip to Sochi. And for some countries, just that alone is hard. For the small island nation of Jamaica, home of the music genre reggae, it seemed impossible. Their only winter olympic contenders are their bobsled team, but unfortunately, they didn’t have the required $80,000 for entry, equipment and flights. Luckily for them, somebody have the ingenious idea of turning to the internet. Once the world-wide-web heard about their situation, generous people all over the world funded $120,000 dollars for the team to go to the olympics. Even though, once there, they lost their luggage, they borrowed some from other nations and are currently competing (though not favorites to win). It just shows what the internet can do.

The Team In Action

Of course, here in the US, we have no problem sending athletes to the olympics, though politicians, on the other hand……… Anyway, to give Team USA an advantage in the games, we do all the technological upgrading we can. This year, Team USA partnered with Under Armour to make one classic piece of equipment for speed skating better: those skin tight suits. The reason skaters wear these suits is so that the aerodynamics or their body are better. This year, they will be wearing their new suits, though, the Mach 39. The Mach is a suit, instead of just really tight, also technologically savvy. Under Armour also got help by Lockheed Martin to analyze your body in the old suits to find ways to improve them. What they found was that some materials work better that others in certain areas of your body, and some areas need small bumps to minimize drag and wind resistance. That led them to create the Mach, which is made out of many different fabrics, and already has been tested and proves that it helps, but if the athlete inside has a bad day or just isn’t good, the Mach can’t change that. Tech can just improve what hasn’t been already.

The Mach 39

For more on tech at the Sochi olympics, watch out for part 2.