Future of Fitness: How Tech is Reshaping Athletics and Health
Written by Rory McGarvey
Thumbnail & Banner Photo by Nike
Recent years have seen remarkable strides in sports technology, greatly influencing records and competition in many athletic disciplines. A notable instance was the 2008 Olympics, where American swimmers donned new full-body swimsuits, which helped break so many records that their tremendous success led to their eventual ban from competition (read more about that here). Since then, this trend of technological innovation has shined through almost every sport, evidenced by the emergence of carbon fibre-plated running shoes and other high-tech gear, revolutionizing the future of athletics. But it's not just elite athletes who benefit; these advancements can support everyone from varsity SMU athletes to those casually working out at the Homburg gym. Today's sports tech brings high-end health monitoring to our wrists, tracking everything from sleep quality and heart rate to blood oxygen levels. Moreover, the rise of artificial intelligence in sports tech simplifies the creation of personalized training schedules and nutritional plans. These innovations are not just enhancing athletic performance; they're transforming the daily lives and fitness journeys of individuals striving to become more active and health-conscious.
Revolution in Competitive Sports: From Swimwear to Marathon Milestones
Photo by Nike
Sports tech advancements have been at the forefront of the media in recent years, like the recent Eliud Kipchoge sub-2-hour marathon in 2019. The 2-hour marathon has been a barrier many thought was physically impossible for a human to break. Still, Kipchoge, with his team of Nike researchers, proved the naysayers wrong by smashing the record with a time of 1:59:40. This human feat was fueled by years of science and technology being put to use, with every last detail being meticulously studied and planned, from ideal race temperature to perfect location.
However, one of the most significant impacts discussed in the running community was the shoes used for the attempt, the Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT%. Engineered specifically for the race to optimize energy return, the shoes utilize carbon fibre plates, which significantly enhance efficiency, propelling each step and conserving the runner's energy. This innovation has since inspired a range of sports footwear, from daily trainers to specialized racing spikes, each leveraging similar technology to shave precious seconds off times.
The breakthroughs don’t stop with shoes; new tech in other sports like swimming and biking have also tremendously impacted the competitions. For example, the banned swimsuits talked about earlier worked by reducing drag and increasing buoyancy and speed for the swimmers. Similar advancements in race bikes, helmets, and other gear have helped cyclists become more aerodynamic and efficient, bringing race times down considerably. Some skeptics have criticized this newfound impact of tech on sports, calling it “mechanical doping” and akin to cheating. While this is a highly debated topic, the professional sporting leagues see some truth in this claim, as specific shoes and gear have been prohibited from competitions to ensure the human element of athletics isn't overlooked (Check out this article for more info on the topic).
The Rise of Smart Tech in Everyday Fitness
The technology leap isn't only found in competitive gear, though. One of the most impactful advancements that has been made stems from tech that can help you track and monitor your everyday training, exercise, and overall health, like smartwatches.
The days of watches being used purely for telling the time are long gone, at least in the sporting world. Smartwatches can now offer great insight into your workouts, providing accurate heart rate readings and other recovery information. Some watches can even calculate the number of calories you are burning each day, giving you a better idea of exactly how much you need to replenish after a hard day of work. Many watches can also include helpful reminders for various exercise-related things, like consuming water, standing, or even meditating if you're into that.
Photo by Luke Chesser on Unsplash
Another asset some of these watches include is giving you a snapshot of your sleep. An essential (and often overlooked, especially for university students) part of training and exercise comes from the recovery aspect, and sleep is vital to this. Many smartwatches can now provide sleep tracking data, informing you of the number of hours of sleep you got and monitoring things like restlessness and deepness of sleep. This insight can provide an essential window into your recovery; you must be well-rested to train and compete at your ideal level, which will only happen with proper sleep.
The swimming community has also taken recent strides in wearable training tech outside the watch department, with smart swim goggles recently surfacing. Goggles, such as the Form Smart Swim Goggles, provide visual insight into swimmers' timing, swim distance, and pace in real-time as they swim, and it looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. The data shows up on an interface in the goggles, allowing you to see your time and rep count while actively exercising underwater. The goggles even connect to your phone, uploading your workout statistics directly for easy access and more in-depth information and trends.
The AI Edge in Personal Fitness and Nutrition
Artificial intelligence programs' development has had shattering impacts on today's society, irreversibly changing many aspects of our lives. However, one often overlooked impact is on exercise and health planning. For example, programs like the running and cycling app, Strava, are revolutionizing fitness regimens by combining generative AI and user activity history to tailor personalized training plans. Strava looks at your past workouts and runs to recommend next steps, whether it be a hard workout or a rest day if it senses your body is getting run down. This trend is rapidly gaining momentum, with more health apps enabling easy access to customized workout routines, which can be great for students just getting started in fitness.
Furthermore, ChatGPT and other AI programs have recently been used to create meal plans and recipes for people looking for ideas on what to cook and eat. While I can't vouch for the nutritional value or suitability of these AI-generated recommendations for everyone, in my own experience, I've been able to use them to plan healthy meals when I don’t know what to make and don’t have many ingredients in the fridge. As a student, it has helped me limit my food waste and try some new recipes; I just type up what I have available and the type of meal I'm looking for, and the AI can create some ideas for what to make. I suspect these personalized workout schedules, recipes, and meal plans are aspects of sports technology that will become more prevalent as time progresses and they are refined.
The Future
In conclusion, the rapid advancement of technology has undeniably changed the landscape of sports and fitness, significantly influencing not just elite athletic performance in competitive sports, but also how students engage with sporting technology. While opinions may vary on the justification of certain aspects of advanced tech in sports, its potential to make exercise more accessible and engaging for a broader audience, including students, is undeniable. As time progresses, these technological advancements will also advance. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store, bringing new possibilities and opportunities for athletes, students, and fitness enthusiasts alike.