While Olympic athletes rely on a combination of skill, training, and determination to excel, researchers are increasingly turning to science to uncover potential performance enhancers. One intriguing question has emerged: Could something as seemingly trivial as hairstyle or clothing give athletes a competitive edge?
A team of researchers from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, and KU Leuven University in Belgium sought to answer this question using advanced simulation software developed by Ansys, a Southpointe-based company. Their focus was on how different hairstyles and clothing might influence performance in female athletes, specifically in the 100-meter dash and long jump.
The study’s findings, reported by Observer-Reporter.com, revealed surprising results. For instance, female athletes with long, curly hair and loose-fitting clothing could lose up to 10 centimeters in their long jump distance—a margin that could mean the difference between winning a medal or missing out entirely.
Bert Blocken, a professor of aerodynamics at Heriot-Watt University, highlighted a persistent misconception in track and field sports: “There’s a surprising misconception that aerodynamic resistance is not significant in track and field events,” he said. Unlike sports such as cycling, skiing, and speed skating, where hair and clothing are meticulously considered, track and field athletes often overlook these factors.
Blocken emphasized that this oversight is a critical error. “Hairstyle and clothing can cause significant drag in events like the long jump and 100-meter sprint, impacting performance enough to lose out on a gold medal,” he explained.
To conduct their research, the team used life-sized plastic mannequins placed in a wind tunnel, simulating various combinations of clothing and hairstyles. Ansys simulation software allowed them to analyze the aerodynamic effects on performance. They also tested 28 different postures for the long jump.
The results were telling. Long, curly hair increased drag by 8.7% in both the 100-meter sprint and long jump. Loose-fitting shorts and tops elevated drag by 23%. These factors, though seemingly minor, could significantly impact an athlete’s performance.
Interestingly, male athletes were not included in the study, leaving room for future research. However, Blocken pointed out that even top athletes have seldom used hair caps in events like the long jump and 100-meter dash, and athletic clothing is rarely tested in wind tunnels. He suggested that these measures could reduce aerodynamic resistance and level the playing field.
Looking ahead, the researchers plan to examine the effects of different socks and shoes on athletic performance.
As Thierry Marchal, chief technologist for healthcare and sport at Ansys in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, noted, “Sporting victories are determined by increasingly small margins, and using simulation to improve factors including aerodynamics can provide the competitive advantage needed to deliver a winning performance.”
The study underscores the importance of considering every possible factor, no matter how small, in the quest for Olympic gold.