One of the objectives of Rio 2016 is to exceed the 144 Paralympic records broken in the London edition in 2012. More than 4,300 athletes from 176 countries will come to Rio de Janeiro, which will compete between 7 and 18 September showing all the result of your workouts and symbiosis between human beings and advances in technology and design, important allies of the Paralympic Games.
Since the emergence of adapted sports in the 40s, when it began to be used in the rehabilitation of holidays soldiers in World War II, to this carioca edition of the Paralympic Games – the fifteenth of history – we have achieved a remarkable breakthrough in the adaptation of equipment according to the need for each athlete, enabling maximum performance in competitions.
The models of prostheses, chairs and accessories follow strict regulations, but the rules do not prevent investments and improvements every season. Innovations aimed at comfort and improved performance with each race for a medal.
The 2016 has 23 sports program, and triathlon and canoeing the latest on that list and boccia and goalball played exclusively in the Paralympics. Already athletics, which for 50 years is part of the modalities framework, is seen as one of the most inclusive activities. The tests are divided according to the deficiencies competitive and you need specific support as it relates to the legs.
South African Oscar Pistorius was the first biamputado in history to participate in the competition using the prosthesis known as “blade”. The accessory made with over 80 layers of carbon fiber is lightweight, flexible, fitting and has artisan would perform the function of the ankle and foot. The joint in the body is made vacuum, the athlete needs a long period of adjustment to achieve balance and avoid injury.
“Using the same model since 2008. In the first month, it was a bit complicated, but then everything became easier. To this day I learn a little more about the prosthesis and every two months see how I can improve the issue of comfort, “says Alan Fonteles, world champion paralympic athletics. The useful life of the material is six months and may vary according to the intensity of training. Where the leg is amputated at the thigh, a knee prosthesis with mechanical uses hydraulic cylinders, which simulate the movement of flexion-extension of the knees. The mechanism allows not only the race, but also the long jump with natural movement fold, beyond the impulse strength.
Some athletes competing sitting use a chair three wheels. A wind tunnel was used to test its aerodynamic and it was proved that the body position is directly affected by wind resistance. Traditional models are now produced with lightweight materials, a slightly sloping handlebars and wheels, reaching cost almost R $ 25 thousand. In addition to the comfort and performance issues, technology is also applied to facilitate handling equipment. The competitions of basketball wheelchairs were redone in 2012, when the structure was as aluminum and the seat was customized by BMW, reducing weight by two kilograms with the previous version. Now the athlete can get around more quickly and can return more easily to the starting position in case of a fall.
The lightness of the material also came up the ramp designed for competitions boules that provided technology used in chassis and wings of Formula 1 cars Change facilitates the correct position and consequently the accuracy in launching the ball. Dentures for cyclists, directly connected to the pedal and Dispensing tennis use, and the seats for throwing projection have improvements on the same line. Moving on to the water sports, researchers at GE’s research center in Rio de Janeiro have developed an application for the canoeing Brazil team Paralympics, which will provide real-time information during training to improve the performance of athletes like Fernando “Cowboy” Rufino.
Investments do not end with the end of the games. In São Paulo, the Brazilian Paralympic Centre (CPB) is the greatest legacy of the Paralympic program in 2016. At the end of construction phase, the space will have indoor and outdoor for 15 sports training facilities, as well as professional training, competitions, social activities and advancement of science and research. It is expected to be the center of most complete adapted sports in the world.
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