One thing people aren’t realizing about the Olympics and world records is that “gravity” isn’t the same everywhere on our planet. When the Olympic Games are played in regions of our planet with the lowest gravity component, you can expect world record times in certain events where gravity is a factor, eg track and field, high jump, long jump , triple jump, shot put, javelin and distance running. Can you see that even a small advantage will result in tenths of a second off times or inches added to an athlete’s performance?

Imagine if the Olympics were held on the Lunar Colony, and one day they probably will be, but at 1/5 gravity, it would take a supercomputer to adjust the difference for the world record columns, and what about Mars, 1 /3? gravity dwells there.

Now, let’s also not forget that Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which is basically + or – at sea level or very close for most events. The air is denser at sea level, more oxygen, and that means better VO2 max. for human athletes, more oxygen to the blood and therefore to the body also makes a big difference. So, when it comes to the Olympic Games in Rio, the athletes should be able to go a long way. Of course, as nice as the perks are, these athletes need to perform their best, as there are no free rides; After all, this is the Olympics.

Every athlete tries to play on their strengths and minimize their weaknesses, some to the point of crossing ethical lines, but more often through better training, tactics, coaches, and sports equipment. At this level of completion, EVERYTHING, no matter how small, matters, and much of the difference between winning and losing is in tenths or even hundredths of a second. The adrenaline and competition are there, the athletes have prepared and trained for their events, and a little help from Gravity can make all the difference. I ask you to consider the physics involved here and what it means for the Olympic Games.

Citations and references:

1.) “Gravity Map Shows Earth is Lumpy” by Larry O’Hanlon of Discovery News, published July 29, 2003.

2.) “A Theoretical Analysis of the Factors Determining VO2 MAX at Sea Level and Altitude,” by Wagner PD, PubMed.com, 1996 Dec;106(3):329-43.

3.) “Sports in Space” (Future Concepts), eBook, September 2011, ASIN: B005LI35RG