The use of new technologies has a long history
The introduction of new technologies in sports has been an ongoing issue in many different areas for decades with motorsports often seen as the main area of concern for those who are looking to introduce new technologies. Many sports fans look to the sport of cycling in the late 1980s and early 1990s as the time when technology exploded in the sport and spread into different arena’s.
However, technology and controversy have gone hand in hand for decades with numerous incidents reported over the years such as the ComBat controversy which struck cricket in 1979. Australian Dennis Lillee arrived to bat in a match against England with an aluminum bat in hand instead of the traditional willow and immediately found himself involved in a controversy. Not only did his own captain, Greg Chappell sends out a traditional bat for Lillee to use but the English team complained about the bat damaging the soft leather ball.
The bat was actually designed as a cheap alternative for schools and developing nations to use to encourage the spread of cricket across the world with Lillee using the 1979 Test Match as a marketing ploy to encourage sales. In the weeks after the match, the global cricket authorities banned the use of all bats apart from those created with a wooden face which would not damage the integrity of the sport.
Cycling kicks off the trend for increased technology
The combination of man and machine may be one of the most impressive of recent times with British cyclist Chris Boardman teaming with the engineers of sportscar manufacturer Lotus to create the Windcheetah bicycle. The Guardian reports Boardman had already become interested in the use of technology to assist in developing his own time trial style which was aided by the use of information and data about revolutions per minute and power distribution in the late 1980s; around the same time, engineer Mike Burrows developed a new design for a bicycle which lowered wind resistance and improved the connection between rider and bike.
At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Boardman debuted the much anticipated and controversial bicycle breaking the world record in the first two rounds of competition and overhauling the world champion Jens Lehmann in just 13 laps of the 4,000-meter pursuit to claim a gold medal. Boardman would eventually retire from cycling in 2000 by taking the world absolute hour record using a bicycle equipped with the technology available in 1972 by more than 10 kilometers showing his own use of technology and data had aided his career as much as the technological breakthroughs made by Lotus, according to The Guardian.
Bodysuits and more
Competition is the driving force behind sports and the desire to break records pushes elite sportspeople to attempt to discover new technologies which can push them towards a greater level of success. The New York Times reports in speedskating and swimming, the use of new technologies has become a controversial aspect of the sports but these are also difficult to eliminate from a sport as the plateauing of various records and performance levels is a major issue which could drive away fans and athletes alike.
The use of full bodysuits was banned by swimming authorities in the early 21st-century after records began to fall in many different events because of the use of new technologies including new fabrics designed to eliminate drag. In other areas, technology has an impact in keeping the playing field level and with safety in mind; during the 1980s and 1990s the battle between javelin throwers Steve Backley and Jan Zelezny which saw regular throws over 90 meters prompted a redesign of the javelin using new technology to keep the equipment in the safety area of athletics track infields.
As technology has moved forward for baseball players such as Andrew Knight New Canaan the need to ensure the human factor in sport remains in play has always been of great importance. Banning all technology would be impossible as many athletes rely on the sponsorship of technology-based groups for survival and to ensure the race to better existing records continues to capture the imagination of the public.