The evolution of speed, size and shape in modern athletics.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
In the present study, we show that the fastest runners and swimmers are becoming not only faster but also heavier, taller and more slender. During the past century, the world record speeds for 100 m-freestyle and 100 m-dash have increased with body mass (M) raised to the power 1/6, in accordance with the constructal scaling of animal locomotion. The world records also show that the speeds have increased in proportion with body heights (H) raised to the power 1/2, in accordance with animal locomotion scaling. If the athlete's body is modeled with two length scales (H, body width L), the (M, H) data can be used to calculate the slenderness of the body, H/L. The world records show that the body slenderness is increasing very slowly over time.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Charles, JD; Bejan, A
Published Date
- August 2009
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 212 / Pt 15
Start / End Page
- 2419 - 2425
PubMed ID
- 19617435
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1477-9145
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0022-0949
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1242/jeb.031161
Language
- eng