Simulating athletes’ performance under extreme conditions

The temperature during the Tokyo Olympic Games this summer reached highs of 34°C. This led authorities to issue special guidance to competing athletes. In a similar way to preparing for high-altitude conditions, sports teams underwent heat acclimatisation with purpose-built environmental chambers or hot rooms.

Any kind of physical exertion in high temperatures can lead to heatstroke. Acclimatisation helps, but only to a certain extent. When your core temperature rises above 39°C, enzymes begin to denature and biological functions slow down or stop altogether. 

Anyone suffering from heatstroke needs immediate medical attention. It can cause fainting, seizures and untreated, it can lead to permanent damage to vital organs. This highlights the importance of understanding the causes of heatstroke and how this dangerous condition might be avoided. 

Hexagon’s athlete performance simulation

The main factors leading to heatstroke in athletes are the ambient temperature of the performance area, the percentage humidity in the air, and the actual movement of the air (which affects the ‘feels like’ temperature). 

The temperature in Tokyo reached dangerous levels for high-performance athletes. The body’s normal response to overheating is to start perspiring. The moisture on the skin evaporates and draws heat away from the body. The problem in Tokyo, however, is the humidity. The air is already saturated, and moisture can’t evaporate, so our natural way of regulating body temperature doesn’t work... 

Read the full article in DPA's November issue