Olympics 2016: What Makes or Breaks Top Athletes

Competitors at the most elite level require more than technical support

A graphical guide to the impact of the Olympics on science

Record-breaking has slowed, but science could find new ways to make us keep getting stronger and faster

With technology and pharmaceuticals dominating our reality, how do we define “natural” human effort in sports? The author of bestseller The Sports Gene weighs in 

During the Games, sailors will compete with sewage and industrial waste as well as one another, but the dry season offers some relief

It’s harder than ever to dope your way to glory—but some athletes will probably get away with it anyway

As we near the limits of human strength and speed, technology and culture keep moving the finish line 

How London’s experience in 2012 is helping Rio prepare

Four years after Oscar Pistorius made history at the London Olympics, the question remains unanswered

In studying runners’ genes and climate adaptation, science often overlooks a key cultural clue

A new study reveals that dopamine may help propel athletes into elite mode

A new study suggests there are limits to the “10,000-hour rule” and how far practice and hard work can take an athlete

As bow technology becomes less expensive and more widely tested in international competitions, the event’s popularity grows

From mosquito-repelling uniforms to specially treated condoms, these Olympians are taking extra measures to avoid infection

Scientists study the stride of Olympic athlete Mike Rodgers

“Gene doping” remains unlikely, but if scientists can safely boost athletic performance by manipulating genes, that should be cause for celebration