Inside Incredible Athletes

Synopsis

Broadcasting two years to the day before the Paralympic 2012 Games begin, this programme examines the demanding training regimes and particular skills required for high performance at each sport. The in-depth profiles of the individual athletes literally get under their skin using scientific tests and state-of-the-art scanning technology to create ‘biomechanical portraits’. The technique allows viewers to see inside these world-class athletes, revealing for the first time the inside story of these incredible humans and how they have achieved sporting excellence.

The athletes featured include blind football player David Clarke. He has over 100 caps for England/GB and has scored over 100 goals. Scientists at Cambridge University discover how he can ‘see’ with his ears.

Wheelchair rugby players Mandip Sehmi and Steve Brown have reached staggering levels of fitness despite being paralysed from the chest down. How have they trained their bodies to overcome such limitations and surpass scientific expectations?

Equestrian dressage rider Lee Pearson is chasing his twelfth gold meal at the 2012 Games. Born with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, Lee has reduced joint mobility and despite 15 operations he still cannot move his ankles or knees, forcing him to control his horse from his hips.

Sprinter and long-jumper Stefanie Reid reveals how she can run the 100m in 14.34 seconds with her lower-leg prosthetic, while swimmer Liz Johnson, who has cerebral palsy affecting the whole of her right side, demonstrates how since the age of four she’s been moving through water better than on land.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2010

Year of production

2010

Notes

Broadcast on Channel 4 on 29/8/2010

Subjects

Sports science

Keywords

athletics; Olympic Games; sports physiology; biometrics; Paralympic athletes

Online availability

URI

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/inside-incredible-athletes/4od

Price

free

Delivery

Streamed

Sponsor

Name

Channel 4

Distributor

Name

4OD

Web

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/4od External site opens in new window