Many runners suffer injuries to their joints due to the repeated impact of their feet hitting the ground. U.S. runner Jenny Simpson relies on new treadmill technology to help rehabilitate from a stress fracture as she trains for the 2012 Summer Olympics. "Science of the Summer Olympics" is a 10-part video series produced in partnership with the National Science Foundation.

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt holds the World and Olympic records for the fastest time in the 100-meter sprint. Bolt's stride, strength, and muscle coordination make him not just a biomechanical marvel, but also a gold medal favorite at the 2012 Summer Olympics. ʺScience of the Summer Olympicsʺ is a 10-part video series produced in partnership with the National Science Foundation.

U.S. weightlifter Sarah Robles will rely on an athletic mix of strength, speed and timing to help create explosive power when she competes at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Robotics engineer Brian Zenowich compares Robles' movements to those made by the WAM Arm, one of the world's most advanced robotic arms. ʺScience of the Summer Olympicsʺ is a 10-part video series produced in partnership with the National Science Foundation.

U.S. swimmer Missy Franklin is one of the top medal contenders at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Just as engineers design planes and boats to be more aerodynamic, Franklin will need to master the basic principles of fluid dynamics in order to be the fastest swimmer in the pool. "Science of the Summer Olympics" is a 10-part video series produced in partnership with the National Science Foundation.

Timing is everything, especially at the 2012 Summer Olympics where even a millisecond could mean the difference between victory and defeat. Linda Milor, an electrical engineer at Georgia Institute of Technology, explains why Olympic timekeeping technology must be able to measure an athlete's performance with both accuracy and precision. ʺScience of the Summer Olympicsʺ is a 10-part video series produced in partnership with the National Science Foundation.

The long jump is one of the most technically challenging events in the decathlon, a track and field competition consisting of 10 events held over two days. In order to maximize his performance, 2008 Olympic gold medalist Bryan Clay teamed up with engineers from BMW to improve measurement of the horizontal and vertical velocities of his long jumps. "Science of the Summer Olympics" is a 10-part video series produced in partnership with the National Science Foundation.

At the 2012 Summer Paralympics, elite athletes with disabilities will rely on strength, speed and skill as they go for the gold in 21 different sporting events. Rory Cooper, a biomechanical engineer at the University of Pittsburgh, demonstrates how engineering can help wheelchair athletes maximize their performance in such diverse sports as wheelchair rugby, basketball and racing. "Science of the Summer Olympics" is a 10-part video series produced in partnership with the National Science Foundation.

For many athletes at the 2012 Summer Olympics, safety helmets will be an essential part of their athletic gear. Nikhil Gupta, a mechanical engineer at New York University's Polytechnic Institute, explains how safety helmets are designed, constructed and tested. ʺScience of the Summer Olympicsʺ is a 10-part video series produced in partnership with the National Science Foundation.

Along with hosting the top swimmers from around the world, the London Aquatics Center at the 2012 Summer Olympics will feature one of the most technologically advanced pools ever built. Through advances in pool design, engineers are helping swimmers reach their maximum speed with technology designed to minimize waves. "Science of the Summer Olympics" is a 10-part video series produced in partnership with the National Science Foundation.