Usain Bolt 2012, vs Every 100m medalist
Needs Plugin: Flash |
Not Working?
Regardless of whether you care about Usain Bolt, or track and field, or even the Games at all, this video is hands-down the coolest thing to come out of this summer's Olympic coverage.
Watch as the New York Times breaks down the evolution of the human race literally, using every 100-meter gold medalist since 1896.
Watch as the New York Times breaks down the evolution of the human race literally, using every 100-meter gold medalist since 1896.
Aug 8, 2012 12:51 PM
Re: Usain Bolt 2012, vs Every 100m medalist
The interesting part to me is that there's a pretty steady increase in overall speed as time passes, so what is causing this? Are genetics and economics changing, allowing people to be better than previous generations? Is it because global population increases, making the pool of olympic athletes larger and thus more skilled? Or is it because as records are made, the current generation is forced to strive harder to beat it?
Possibly a combination of these things, but I almost wonder if the gold medal times this year were all erroneously reported as 20% higher than they actually were if in the following Olympics people would be doing better than they would otherwise.
Possibly a combination of these things, but I almost wonder if the gold medal times this year were all erroneously reported as 20% higher than they actually were if in the following Olympics people would be doing better than they would otherwise.
By: NoBiggie
Re: Usain Bolt 2012, vs Every 100m medalist
I'm guess a lot of it has to do with nutrition and physiology sciences, better running shoes and surfaces, and our ever-burgeoning population spitting out a few more good outliers. That, or better tine-keeping. Things have come a long way since your day, NoBiggie, when people just counted "one-a-thousand, two-a-thousand..." ;)
Re: Usain Bolt 2012, vs Every 100m medalist
I think it is all about genetics. Certain nationalities are physically fit to be more successful in specific sports. For instance, Canadians are not the best in sprinting, however, their inherited muscle tone is perfectly suitable for sports such as curling.
By: flopnik
