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Scientists Explain How an All Drug Olympics Could Create the Greatest Athletes Ever

If we let athletes dope all they want, just how big, fast and strong can they really get?

Jesse Owens

76 Years Ago Today, Jesse Owens Proved the Nazis Wrong

In 1936 Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics, throwing the idea of Aryan supremacy back into Hitler’s face

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Why don’t sprinters start with a pistol anymore? They’re too fast

The classic starting gun leaves too much margin of error, so London has switch to an electronic beep.

Susan Williams smiles at her daughter, Sydney, after she receives the bronze medal during ceremonies for the women's triathlon at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

Susan Williams’ Guide to Watching the Triathlon

The bronze medalist offers a cheat sheet on her sport’s rules, maneuvers and game-changing moments

Charles Austin competes in the high jump at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Charles Austin’s Guide to Watching the High Jump

The gold medalist offers a cheat sheet on his sport’s rules, maneuvers and slang

Natalie Golda looks to pass the ball during a preliminary round water polo match at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Natalie Golda’s Guide to Watching Water Polo

The silver medalist tells you all you need to know about her sport

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Old-Timey Olympians Show How Things Have Changed

Clendenin’s photos evoke the feeling that for all the changes seen by the modern Olympic games, the athletes themselves could be transposed across time

The hand holds on the Nova are a pretty far stretch from the usual polyurethane grips found at the indoor rock climbing gym.

New Tech May Have Athletes Climbing the Walls

How the Nova, the latest in artificial climbing wall design, goes from in-home gym to living room gallery

One goal at the 2010 World Cup reignited a debate that sparked the future introduction of goal line technology.

Gooooal! Two Technologies Compete to Sense Soccer Goals

A major botched call by referees during the World Cup has opened the door for computerized replacements

Who will take more of these bad boys home with them, China or the United States?

How China Will Beat the US in Olympic Medals

How to tell which countries will take home more bling, and why weight lifting matters

Can you predict how fast these women will run the 100m hurdles? Math might.

How to Win Money by Predicting the Olympics

Statistics could help predict just how fast athletes will run and swim at this summer’s Olympics

Dana Chladek competes in the Olympic Slalom Trials in 1992.

Dana Chladek’s Guide to Watching Canoe Slalom

The silver medalist explains the ins and outs of her sport

Anna Goodale (right) and Zsuzsanna Francia (left) compete in the women's pairs event at the FISA Rowing World Cup in Germany in 2008.

Anna Goodale’s Guide to Watching Rowing

The gold medalist shares her favorite Olympic moment, and explains the basics of her sport

Recent studies indicate that the brain's insular cortex may help a sprinter drive his body forward just a little more efficiently than his competitors.

A Single Brain Structure May Give Winners That Extra Physical Edge

An extraordinary insula helps elite athletes better anticipate their body’s upcoming feelings, improving their physical reactions

Jean Jacoby's Corner, left, and Rugby. At the 1928 Olympic Art Competitions in Amsterdam, Jacoby won a gold medal for Rugby.

When the Olympics Gave Out Medals for Art

In the modern Olympics’ early days, painters, sculptors, writers and musicians battled for gold, silver and bronze

The 400 meter race on 1984 Olympic track

The Science Behind London Olympics’ “Springy” Track

When the athletes hit the track at this summer’s Olympic games, they’ll be stepping onto a surface as finely tuned as they are

There are 14 different freestyle races in the Olympics, more than any other stroke.

Which Freestyle Method Would Help You Beat Michael Phelps?

Scientists examine the difference between two distinct freestyle strokes in order to determine the most efficient stroke around

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The Swimsuit Series, Part 4: A Competitive Swimmer’s Musings

In Leanne Shapton’s Swimming Studies “Bathing” chapter, there’s a story behind every suit

Greg Louganis competes in a diving event held in August 1984 at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.

Greg Louganis’ Guide to Watching Diving

The gold medalist offers a cheat sheet on his sport’s rules, maneuvers and slang

Sada Jacobson Baby (right) of the United States battles with Leonore Perrus of France in the bronze medal match in the Women's Team Sabre event at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Sada Jacobson Bâby’s Guide to Watching Fencing

The silver medalist explains the equipment, rules and maneuvers of her sport

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