The Science of Sport
1. At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, the Chinese athlete Liu Xiang equaled
the world record for the 110 metres hurdles (跨栏) when he ran the race in 12.91
seconds. This record time had been set in 1993 by British sprinter (短跑运动员) Colin
Jackson and 9 years went by before another athlete was able to run as
fast. 2. Record-breaking in all track events is slowing clown
and we appear to be moving much closer to the limits of human performance.
Nevertheless, every four years, records which were previously thought to be
unbeatable are broken. So what’s behind this never-ending improvement in
performance And how long can we keep breaking records Is there a limit to
human performance or will athletes continue to gain seconds 3.
Most experts agree that it isn’t the athletes’ bodies which have changed but the
huge advances in sport science which have enabled them to improve their
performances. The individual athlete obviously has to have the necessary skill
and determination to succeed, but the help of science and technology can be
significant. Research has brought a better understanding of the athlete’s body
and mind but the advances in sports equipment technology have also had an
important impact on human performance. 4. Scientists have shown
that an athlete’s body’s needs vary according to the type of sport. This
research has helped top sports people to adapt their training programme and diet
better to their particular needs. Running the marathon and cycling, for example,
are endurance (耐力) sports and require a different parathion (硝苯硫磷脂) to that of a
100-metre sprinter. In some sports, changes in techniques have significantly
improved performance. 5. But in any sport, a player’s success
or failure results from a combination of both physical and mental abilities.
Most coaches use psychological techniques to help their athletes cope with
stress and concentrate on their performance. For example, the English football
team listens to music in the changing rooms before a game to help the players
relax and not feel so nervous. Before a difficult match, tennis players are
encouraged to use visualization (想象) techniques to build confidence and this is
almost as good as practice. 6. But as science begins to
dominate sport, are we in danger of losing sight of the heart of the
competition, the sporting challenge What’s more, are all these advantages
fair A. Different sports require different training
programs. B. Science may be too important today.
C. Sports equipment has been improved a lot. D. Athletes
are still breaking records. E. Sport science helps improve
athletes’ performances. F. Mental training is as important as
physical training. We don’t know if there is a limit ______.