The new technology that keeps athletes on track

Only a few years ago it was common to see a running blade snap in a race but this is now rare. New developments are tightly regulated so that no athlete has an unfair advantage but whether it means lighter balls or blades, technology makes it easier for athletes to compete, says Ken Hurst, chief executive of Ottobock, the official repairs service for the Paralympics.

The blades

Designed by inventor and amputee Van Phillips in 1970s, blade-shaped prostheses now come in many varieties. Ottobock makes blades five times stronger than steel by building up more than 80 layers of carbon fibre, each thinner than a human hair. Carbon fibre absorbs stress to protect runners’ joints from the effects of impact. Sprint runner Oscar Pistorius uses Flex-Foot Cheetahs, and Nike has made spikes that can be attached to the bottom to give better grip.

Tracking

Coaches will monitor wheelchair basketball players with radio signals and sensors on court. This system, made by McLaren, tracks movement several times per second, to within 15cm of the player’s location.

Wheelchairs

Team GB’s Shelly Woods, who won silver in the 5,000m at Beijing, tested the rigidity of her wheelchair at BAE Systems’ wind tunnel in Lancashire, against an airflow of 45 kmph. Wheelchairs must be tough to maximise the power transferred onto the track. Made of titanium alloy, can be picked up with one hand.

Socket technology

Oscar Pistorius uses socks to lubricate where his blades meet his residual limbs but others use silicone, co-polymers or urethane at the join. What’s important is creating a seamless connection to eliminate movement and thus soreness. Some athletes use a machine to create a vacuum that holds the leg onto the limb.