According to a leading physiology expert, if Usain Bolt were to compete against ‘tomorrow’s’ athletes he would almost certainly be an also-ran.
Dr Edward Coyle, one of the lead speakers at UKsem 2010 a world-first conference on sport and exercise medicine, believes there is no roof to the speed capacity of humans in the future, and although Bolt’s time at the Beijing 2008 Olympics (clocked at a staggering 9.58 seconds), was deemed “unbeatable” by four-time Gold medalist Michael Johnson, athletes of the not-too-distant future are likely to leave the lightning Bolt trailing.
Coyle – who spent seven years working with cyclist Lance Armstrong to improve his performance – claims that there are no limits to the speed of tomorrow’s sporting professionals. He believes the rate of improvement amongst top athletes will increase exponentially if the correct training program is in place.
“I expect world records in athletics will continue to be broken for decades and centuries to come and that we, at this time, might have a hard time imagining the performances that people will one day achieve,” says Coyle, director of the Human Performance Laboratory at the University of Texas.
Coyle is set to reveal results of his latest studies at UKsem 2010 – the leading conference for professionals working within, or with an interest in sports medicine, sports science, elite coaching and health at ExCel, London on the 24th-27th November.
Previously, Coyle has predicted that the ‘ultimate-limit’ mankind is capable of running over one mile is a staggering 23 seconds faster than the current world record. In 1960, the world 100 meter record was 10.0 seconds, however today’s world record is a previously unthinkable 9.58 seconds, held by Bolt.
“Human performance requires many systems of the body - muscular, cardiovascular and neurological - functioning at high levels and often in synergy to one and other.”
UKsem 2010 will feature topical discussions and thought-provoking debates from 30 of the world’s leading sports medicine, science and rehabilitation experts.
For more information please visit www.UKsem.org