Engineering developments and sporting success are intrinsically linked. Engineering principles have been widely used in recent decades to solve modern sporting problems, which has created a mutually beneficial relationship between the two. The ease with which engineering and sports go hand-in-hand can be seen in the recent Winter Olympics in Beijing, which have been a display not only of athletic achievement, but have showcased the strengths of design and engineering.

Beijing 2022 will mark 98 years of the Winter Olympics, but the games have come a long way since the days of wooden skis and stopwatches. This is largely due to the technological advantages brought about from engineering professionals. As skiers, skaters, and sledders take to the slopes, rinks, and tracks to compete for Olympic glory, their success is often dependent upon the latest engineering developments.

This monitoring of an athlete’s activity is complimented by the design of innovative equipment and apparel to enhance an athlete’s performance. Engineers are involved in both making new materials and improving existing materials, making them stronger, lighter or more flexible depending on the sporting application. This can be of particular importance in sports such as speed-skating and bobsleighing, which often come down to the wire when awarding medals. For example, when designing the boots for speed skaters, a mould is taken of their feet by an engineer, who then handcrafts a custom-made boot from carbon fibre, microfibre and thermo foams. This is combined with the use of carbon-fibre tips on gloves, which reduce friction with the ice as the skaters stabilise themselves going around corners.

When designing apparel for performance, engineers must consider the properties of different textiles and fabrics, and the environment and conditions athletes need to perform under. In sports where speed is a key determining factor of winning or losing, such as speed skiing, engineers are concerned with developing outerwear and equipment which enhances the aerodynamics of the athlete during the competition. By improving equipment quality, the chance of failure is also reduced, helping prevent injuries to competitors and ensuring their safety.

Engineering has also revolutionised the Paralympic games. Of note is the development of the sit-ski, which allows double amputees to compete in events. This marvel of engineering involves the creation of a custom-mould of the competitor’s body from fibre glass, which is then attached to skis via bindings.

It’s clear from the above that engineering has significantly impacted the world of sport, through being involved in designing new equipment, building facilities, analysing athlete performance, regulating standards and developing enhanced coaching tools.

Without the advancements of modern engineering, one has to question, what would sport look like? Would our tournaments and matches be less competitive and less exciting? As long as engineering keeps providing the sporting world with innovative products and equipment, it’s safe to say that will never be the case!