The 100-meter dash is one of the most prestigious events at the Olympic Games, and one of the fastest. The world records for the event are 9,63 seconds for men (set by Usain Bolt in 2012) and 10,60 seconds for women (set by Elaine Thompson-Herah in 2021). With 0,01 seconds making the difference, timing is crucial, and TechRadar spoke to the CEO of Olympic Timing at Omega, Alain Zobrist, to find out exactly how it works.
Omega has been the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932, when a single watchmaker was shipped from Switzerland to Los Angeles with 30 chronographs in a suitcase.
Things have changed a bit since then, Zobrist says, and 530 Omega timekeepers traveled to Japan for this year's event, along with 400 tons of equipment, to deliver results to athletes from all sports.
On your marks...
For the 100m in particular, three sets of machines and equipment are needed to achieve correct timing: one at the start, one at the finish, and one that covers everything else.
“It starts with the starting gun, starting blocks, and a complete starting system,” Zobrist says. "So the starter gave the start command and pulled the trigger to start, and as soon as that, the clock starts ticking."
Once the race has started, the first measurement is made using sensors located at the rear of the starting blocks. "We measured the athletes' horizontal pressure in blocks 2000 times per second, so this gives us a very accurate understanding of athletes' reaction times," says Zobrist.
We use motion sensors and positioning systems on athletes to measure their position, exact speed, acceleration, and deceleration.
alain zobristDuring the race, the timekeepers also measure a lot of other essential information, such as weather conditions, according to World Athletics rules. For example, if there is too much wind, a world record may not be recognized. The athletes themselves are also tracked, providing additional insight into their performance.
“For the first time here in Tokyo, we are also using motion sensors and positioning systems on the athletes to measure their position, exact speed, acceleration and deceleration,” says Zobrist. "And it allows us to tell at the end of the race where an athlete has gained or lost time."
Upon reaching the finish, cells set up on either side of the finish line stop the running time on TV and on stadium scoreboards. This provides an unofficial time for the race, but the official times are measured with Omega's finish line cameras.
“We have three installed at the finish line,” says Zobrist. "The main camera and the rear camera on one side of the finish line, and an interior camera on the other side of the finish line, so we can capture all the action as it happens. So if two athletes pass each other, you always know who will cross the line first."
perfect picture
Omega introduced its first cameras in 1948. They were black and white film cameras, and the film had to be developed in a dark room for 30 to 45 minutes before results could be verified.
“Today we are using for the first time a photo-finishing camera called the Myria, which Omega introduced in 2014,” says Zobrist. "It takes 10 photos of the first 000mm of the finish line and stitches those images together 8 per second, which gives us a very good understanding of what's going on at that finish line, and we can always tell very well." precisely. who crossed the line first and what was his time."
take 10 photos of the first 000mm of the finish line and stitch those images together 8 per second
Alain ZobristOnce the timekeepers have assessed this time, together with the judges, the post-race results management begins.
"All of these results are formatted and delivered in real time to a variety of stakeholders, mainly broadcasters, so they can show special graphics on TV to explain the action in real time, to bulletin boards in the stadium, information systems of commentators and multiple websites to keep everyone watching informed.”
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games are in their final days and the closing ceremony will take place on Sunday, August 8, but there are still many events to come. Check out the full program and make sure you don't miss a thing.