From the sports shoe to the swimsuit and the tennis racket to the football, sports technologists have applied their ingenuity, creativity and expertise to develop better and safer equipment in the quest for sporting excellence.
The outcome has been: enhanced performance; better, safer and more effective sports equipment; precision measurement of performance; and multiple ways to experience sporting events anywhere and at any time.
The technology partnership between BAE Systems and UK Sport has benefited more than 30 different sports and 250 Olympic and Paralympic athletes since its conception in 2008.
Sports that have benefited include taekwondo, track cycling, BMX cycling, skeleton bobsled, bobsled, sailing, short track speed skating, athletics (projectile sports), canoeing (slalom and sprint), badminton, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair racing, swimming, modern pentathlon, shooting, archery, hockey, diving and equestrian.
As well as working to improve sporting success, the partnership showcases the value of engineering and its range of applications.
As technology plays an increasing role in helping professional athletes around the world, the partnership hopes to excite and educate young people about the range of career opportunities from studying STEM subjects at school.
Consider this: Sporting team members working together is similar to business and engineering. Engineering teams collaborate within larger teams of project managers, legal representatives, accountants, contract and commercial officers supporting the business to deliver solutions to customers.
Case study
Athletes, sport scientists and engineering experts from BAE Systems, Williams Advanced Engineering, GB Snowsport and Formaplex worked together to create new sit ski technology ahead of the 2021 Paralympic Winter Games.