When science supports athletes

Of course talent is also a factor, and it is a safe bet that we will never really get past the eternal nature or nurture debate. But high-level sport, where results are measured in millimetres or thousandths of a second, is above all a matter of constant improvement, of minute adjustments, of infinite repetitions and thousands of hours of work. Moreover, as records fall, we can legitimately begin to wonder what our limits might be. This is where science can play a vital role. When bodies are pushed to their limits, we can help them by calculating the optimal trajectory, improving equipment through revolutionary innovation, specific preparation that improves concentration and recovery... Many scientific disciplines are thus being put to use for the benefit of athletes, particularly on the eve of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games! And top athletes are not the only ones involved. Science can also help people with disabilities who want to continue doing sport, providing them with ever more appropriate tools, and helping them to develop their abilities, but also to improve their everyday lives.

These fruitful and multiple collaborations between athletes and scientists are the subject of a large fresco produced by CNRS, in partnership with RATP, and displayed in the corridors of the Montparnasse-Bienvenüe metro station, in Paris, from 11 May to 6 July 2023. Its aim is give the general public a better understanding of everything that science can bring to athletes, in many disciplines.

To mark this occasion, we have provided a selection of reports for you to read on the various ways in which science can serve athletes.