The U.S. women secured a gold medal in the 4x100 relay, with Sha Carri Richardson delivering an impressive final sprint to propel the team to victory. Her remarkable performance not only clinched the top spot on the podium but also created a memorable moment that quickly spread across the internet. However, recent studies suggest that the climate could have influenced the athletes' performance in this event!
In the Olympics, it is crucial for athletes to comprehend the positive and negative effects of climate change in order to evaluate and adjust to the changing climate's impacts. While traditionally seen as detrimental to human activities, climate warming has been found in recent scientific studies to potentially enhance athletes' performance in anaerobic sports.
By analyzing global weather observations and athletes' performance data, it becomes evident that the performances of top athletes worldwide in almost all anaerobic athletic events (such as track and field competitions, sprints, jumps, and throws) significantly enhance with the increase in ambient temperature. For instance, the performance in the 100m sprint notably advances by 0.26 seconds as the ambient temperature escalates from 11.8° to 36.4°C. Utilizing Coupled Model Intercomparison data, which offers standardized environmental driver information for 22 terrestrial biosphere models, it is possible to demonstrate that the rise in global temperatures could notably boost the performance of top athletes worldwide in eleven out of the thirteen Olympic anaerobic events by 0.27%–0.88% and 0.14–0.48% under high-emission and medium-emission scenarios, respectively, during the period from 1979 to 2100, the current era of global warming.
Physical capability will not only enhance, but there are also noticeable improvements of 0.59% (0.063 s) and 0.32% (0.034 s) for the 100m. Analysis indicates that the warmer ambient air can boost athletes' performance by expanding the air, thereby decreasing air resistance for competitors in events like hammer throw, discus, sprints, hurdles, and jumps. Quantitative assessment suggests that this thermodynamic effect is just as crucial as physiological processes for the positive effects of warmer ambient air on performance in these disciplines.
Research also shows this may not hold true for all athletes. Taller and leaner runners with long limbs tend to excel in events held in warmer climates, while athletes with stockier builds and shorter limbs were more likely to fare better in colder climates. Interestingly, these physiological links were detected in men, but not in women.
This study is among only a few connecting human physiology to what are known as Bergmann’s and Allen’s rules (named for the 19th century biologists Carl Bergmann and Joseph Asaph Allen), which argue that the overall body size of animals, along with the length and thickness of their limbs, correspond to climatic particularities.
More specifically, the evidence suggests that, while cold-adapted athletes tend to be burlier with thicker and shorter limbs to avoid heat loss, those adapted to hotter climates are sleeker with thinner and longer limbs that help them keep cool efficiently. Although these rules are generally accepted in the case of the animal kingdom, research studying them in humans has been neglected, until now due to climate extremes, only a few studies from mid-20th century suggesting a link between human physiology and climate can be resourced.
In summary, although there may be some benefit initially to a warming climate eventually things could hit a tipping point where the negatives become extreme. Until then the majority of professional and amateur athletes should engage in pre-conditioning exercises, commonly known as a 'warm-up', before engaging in a competitive activity. The primary goal of warming up is to trigger both temperature and non-temperature related responses to enhance performance. These responses involve raising muscle temperature, initiating metabolic and circulatory adjustments, and mentally preparing for the upcoming challenge. Nevertheless, warming up in hot and/or humid environments can lead to increased thermal and circulatory stress. Consequently, this could result in neuromuscular and cardiovascular issues that may restrict endurance capacity. To prepare for competing in such conditions, athletes should follow an acclimatization routine. Additionally, athletes should consider utilizing cooling methods to reduce heat exposure during the warm-up and prevent dehydration.
Comments