Many of us have watched the Olympic Games since we were kids, amazed by incredible performances, secretly hoping we could reach that level in a sport, and passionately rooting for our favorite athletes or our country’s team. The resources, effort, and time that go into organizing such an event are impressive, and its success often depends on details, as well as the athletes’ final performance.
The Olympic Games have come a very long way from their initial launch in Olympia, Greece, in 776 BC, and even from their re-birth in 1896 in Athens. Since then, almost everything has evolved in terms of sports, organization, resources, the preparation of the athletes, and more.
Similarly to every great event, the Olympic Games have offered a few great inventions and innovations to the world. Whether it's a significant technical advancement like Omega’s Photofinish Camera or a different way to compete, such as the Fosbury Flop, all these innovations show the passion and inventiveness of everyone involved. Let’s explore some of these.
Omega's Photofinish Camera
London Olympics, 1948
The photofinish camera was developed by the Swiss watchmaker Omega - the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932. Omega’s goal was to enable the determination of the winner in close races with great accuracy. It is mainly used in track and field events.
The camera captures a continuous image of the finish line at a speed of 1,000 frames per second, allowing judges to determine the exact moment when each athlete crossed the line. The camera was able to record these images on a moving strip of film aligned with the finish line, producing a detailed image of all competitors at the finish.
By now, Omega has evolved this technology to capture up to 40,000 digital images per second at the finish line of races. Currently, they have the highest resolution in the market. Their latest model was introduced in this year’s Paris Olympics.
Photo finish of the 100-meter dash at the 1948 Olympic games.
Tartan Track
Mexico City Olympics, 1968
The Tartan track was developed by 3M, an American multinational conglomerate, known for its innovation in materials and manufacturing processes. Its creation started as early as the 50s, was tested during the early 60s and made its first official appearance in a big event during the Mexico City Olympics in 1968 replacing the traditional cinder tracks.
Tartan tracks are made from polyurethane and rubber, which provides a resilient, weather-resistant surface faster and more consistent than previous surfaces. This material reduces the energy loss when athletes’ feet hit the ground, allowing for quicker and more efficient runs.
They have been widely used until today with many improvements made over the years.
The latest advancement in athletic tracks features at this year’s Paris Olympics. Beneath a uniquely purple track lies a rubber track with two layers. The lower level has honeycomb cells, where air absorbs the shock of a foot landing, then pushes out, feeding the energy back as the foot takes off again. The organization claims it is 2% faster than the latest track version in Tokyo in 2020.
EPO Testing
Sydney Olympics, 2000
During the Sydney Olympics in 2000, was the first time where testing for Erythropoietin (EPO), a blood-boosting hormone that enhances endurance, was introduced
The approved test for EPO uses a combination of urine testing, to identify the presence of EPO (direct test) and blood testing, which would show the residual ‘footprints’ of EPO drug use over time (indirect test). This was the first time blood was used for drug testing.
The test was developed by researchers in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), with significant contributions from scientists at the French national anti-doping laboratory in Châtenay-Malabry.
Full-Body Swimsuits
Beijing Olympics, 2008
Full-body swimsuits, such as Speedo's LZR Racer, were probably an invention that has garnered the most headlines. The most well-known and successful models were initially developed by Speedo, in collaboration with NASA and the Australian Institute of Sport. They have been proven to significantly reduce drag and enhance buoyancy, leading to numerous world records in swimming.
The LZR Racer -and most of the similar versions- was made from a special polyurethane-based fabric that repelled water and compressed the swimmer's body to reduce drag. It also included ultrasonically welded seams instead of stitched seams, which further reduced resistance in the water.
World Aquatics banned high-tech suits beginning on Jan. 1, 2010, instead calling for textile-only fabric. Men's suits are only allowed to extend from the waist to the knees, while women's suits are limited from shoulders to knees. Additionally, World Aquatics inspects each suit prior to competition, and they all must have a tag to signify approval. This regulation is still in effect at this year’s Olympics.
Fosbury Flop
Mexico City Olympics, 1968
This might not be exactly a technological advancement, but it is an innovative way of thinking, a new way to do things. The Fosbury Flop was a new high jump technique, which revolutionized the event. Dick Fosbury developed this technique during his high school and college years, continuously optimizing it until he won the gold medal at the 1968 Olympics.
Instead of jumping facing the bar, as was common until then with the "straddle" technique, the approach in the Fosbury flop is characterized by (at least) the final four or five steps being run in a curve, allowing the athlete to lean into the turn, away from the bar in a diagonal way, leading with the head and shoulders and landing on the back. This allows the center of gravity to be lowered even before knee flexion, providing a longer time for the take-off thrust. Additionally, on take-off, the sudden move from inward lean outwards produces a rotation of the jumper's body along the bar's axis, aiding clearance.
The Fosbury Flop is now the only type of jump used by all athletes at the Olympics.
Dick Fosbury debuted the 'Fosbury Flop' at the Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games.
If we dig deeper, we will surely find many more minor and major innovations arising from, or because of, the biggest sporting event in the world. Sports have always been at the forefront of Innovation since they have the competitiveness required to create breakthrough solutions. Thinking differently, keeping on trying even when one fails and passion for doing the extraordinary are some common traits between athletes and innovators. Similarly to someone competing in the Olympics, an innovator will work for years behind the scenes just to enjoy a moment of glory and success. It needs patience to rise to the top, but it’s worth it.
Just as athletes need top-notch training to achieve success, innovators require the right innovation management tools to generate the best ideas. Discover our 360° innovation management solution. To book a free demo, get in touch with us.
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