What Surprises Me About The Past Century of Olympic Sprinting

The Olympics are fascinating, aren't they? The best of the best from all over the world come together to showcase the pinnacle of human athletic ability. One of the biggest attractions at the Olympics is the 100-metre sprint. It tests the most fundamental of athletic skills—sheer speed. There's something primal and thrilling about it.

It made me think. The Olympics have been around for a long time, and the last 100 years, in particular have seen huge advances in sports science. Surely these advances must have led to significant improvements, right?

I couldn't help but wonder how far we have come since 100 years ago, in 1924, when British runner Harold Abrahams won gold in the 100 metres. How far is the gap between now and then?

Remember, there's a century of innovation in human performance between these two eras. In the 1920s, shoes were made of goatskin with no energy transfer. Now they're made with breathable textile uppers, professional foam for optimal energy return, and carbon-fibre plates for explosive speed.