sports
No, AI is not your employee
In 1961, a fiberglass pole replaced the metal one used in pole vaulting and athletes broke the world record 19 times in a single decade. In cycling, better aerodynamics alone accounted for nearly half of all performance improvement over the sport’s history. Graphite rackets transformed tennis. Polyurethane swimsuits were so effective they eventually were banned (yet some records set during those two years still stand).
TL;DR
- Fiberglass poles replaced metal ones in pole vaulting in 1961, leading to 19 world record breaks in a decade.
- Aerodynamics improvements accounted for nearly half of performance gains in cycling history.
- Graphite rackets revolutionized the sport of tennis.
- Polyurethane swimsuits were highly effective, leading to banned usage but persistent records.