WHAT
ARE THE LIMITS?
As the world gears up for the Olympic Games
in Athens, Nature news journeys
to the frontiers of athletic performance.
Test yourself in our interactive
challenge to create the perfect endurance
athlete, find out whether the concept of the
world record needs a rethink, and read about
the battle to beat the drug cheats - a race
that some say will never be won.
Step into the world of the athletes who work
their bodies so hard that they develop a syndrome
of perpetual exhaustion, and those for whom
a rare genetic condition can mean that the
decision to compete in the games could even
prove fatal. And discover how Athens' notorious
pollution will make some events as much of
a test of the lungs as of the legs.
4 August 2004
Concept
and editing by Michael Hopkin.
Design by Charlotte Westney and Steve Shields.
Additional reporting by Helen Pilcher and
Emma Marris.
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The
faking of champions
Surveillance for biotech performance-enhancing drugs was increased at last month's Olympic Games. Will athletes turn to more stealth enhancements in the future? Laura DeFrancesco investigates.
27 August 2004 |
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Top
of the world
This summer will see the
world's supreme athletes doing what they do best. But
what does it take to reach the top, asks Nature news,
and will we ever witness the perfect performance?
4 August 2004 |
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Beating
the drug cheats
Experts fear the battle
may never be won.
4 August 2004 |
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A
breed apart
Olympic athletes are on
the edge of normal physiology, finds Alison Abbott.
4 August 2004 |
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The
medals and the damage done
Athletes' punishing schedules
push their bodies to the limit. But what happens if they
go too far? Jim Giles finds out.
4 August 2004 |
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Heart-stopping action
Some athletes diagnosed
with a genetic heart condition are banned from competitive
sport. Laura Spinney discovers how they are fighting for
the right to run the risk of death.
4 August 2004 |
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Gasping for victory
This year's Olympics will
take place in Athens, a city renowned for its hot, humid
summers and stifling air pollution. Martin Leeb discovers
how the athletes plan to overcome the hurdle of these
tough conditions.
4 August 2004 |
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