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How the fastest humans run
Explore the incredible science, genetics, and technique that allow elite athletes to shatter the limits of human speed.
4 chapters72 assets
by dash · Jul 30, 2026
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Chapter 1
The physics of the foot strike
1The myth of pushing off
2The secret of ground contact time
3Stride length versus frequency
4The role of the arms
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Chapter 2
Inside the sprinter's muscles
1The power of fast-twitch fibers
2Fueling the ten-second engine
3The speed gene ACTN3
4The stiffness of the Achilles tendon
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Chapter 3
The art of the starting blocks
1Defying gravity in the blocks
2The limits of human reaction time
3The acceleration phase
4Reaching the speed ceiling
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Chapter 4
Legends of the track
1Usain Bolt's unusual physics
2Florence Griffith-Joyner's unbreakable records
3Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's explosive start
4The rise of Asian sprinters
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