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ARTICLE · 23 AUGUST 2021

Innovation In Action At Tokyo 2020

J A Kemp
J A Kemp
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J A Kemp

J A Kemp

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Pioneering, astonishing and enthralling – these words perfectly describe the record-breaking performances we saw at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

United KingdomIntellectual Property
Thomas Compton
Thomas Compton
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Pioneering, astonishing and enthralling – these words perfectly describe the record-breaking performances we saw at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. But the terms could equally apply to the cutting-edge innovations that were also on display for the first time. In this article, we race through the new technologies that are pushing the boundaries of human capability.

Tracking improvement

On the track, world records were broken in the men's and women's 400 metres hurdles, as well as the women's triple jump. However, advances are also to be found in the track itself. The revolutionary Tokyo 2020 athletics track contains three layers specially designed for the Olympics. The base layer takes the form of a honeycomb structure, in which the hexagons are elongated in the direction of running (see EP patent 2055833). Air cells embedded within each hexagonal unit compress on impact to provide shock absorption and an improved energy return to the athlete.

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