SET gives Aussie Olympians the edge

Associate Professor Lachlan Thompson from the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (left), Dr Anthony Bedford from the School of Mathematical and Geospatial Sciences and the Head of the Exercise Metabolism Group and Professor John Hawley, from the School of Medical Sciences.

Associate Professor Lachlan Thompson from the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (left), Dr Anthony Bedford from the School of Mathematical and Geospatial Sciences and the Head of the Exercise Metabolism Group and Professor John Hawley, from the School of Medical Sciences.

The SET portfolio has played a crucial role in helping our Olympic athletes gain an edge over their opponents.

An Olympic Briefing Breakfast, organised by RMIT’s Media and Communications Unit, showcased the latest research aiding our athletes at the Beijing Olympics in August.

Journalists, academics and students heard Associate Professor Lachlan Thompson talk about how his team from the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (SAMME) revolutionised the design of the track racing bike in the early nineties, helping Australia achieve 23 world championships and three world records in four years.

It’s that sort of success that SET researchers are hoping to replicate in Beijing.

Professor Thompson detailed his team’s latest project - an improved paddle they hope will help our Olympic canoeists bring home the gold.

“It’s the most advanced canoe paddle in the world, using hydrodynamic design and advanced manufacturing technology,” Professor Thompson said.

Australia’s badminton team hasn’t scored great success, with the sport dominated by Asian countries.

Dr Anthony Bedford from the School of Mathematical and Geospatial Sciences (SMGS) told the audience how he and his RMIT Sports and Statistics Group were hoping to redress this dominance.

“We are using statistics to take apart and analyse the games, helping develop the strengths in Australia’s players and find weaknesses in their opponents’ games,” he said.

Head of the Exercise Metabolism Group, Professor John Hawley, from the School of Medical Sciences (SMS), detailed new developments in sports nutrition.

“By ingesting cold solutions like 'slurpees', athletes can delay the rise in their core temperatures, which will help them compete at a higher level for longer,” Professor Hawley said.

SET Online will revisit these academics after the Olympics to see how the new technologies performed.