Engineering a sporting chance?

All too often we idealise our athletic heroes’ pursuit of the virtuous perfection of natural talent, and fail to recognise that technology is fundamental to this process. For individuals who are close to the world of elite sport, the very notion of a ‘natural performance’ is an abstract concept that is far removed from reality. It is no overstatement to suggest that science and engineering are absolutely central to the modern sporting world; however, this is a relationship that should not be feared, but rather embraced.