The science behind the medals.
How many hours of training does it take to win a gold medal? Will a shark skin swimming suit really make you swim faster? And where would you draw the line between fair play and downright cheating?
Sports Lab is a brand new family-friendly exhibition created by Museums Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University which answers these questions and many more. Featuring examples of cutting edge sports technology and historic memorabilia such as the very first Football Association rules, Sports Lab will show just what it takes to get to the top in sport.
As well as showcasing a wealth of sporting icons, from a Penny Farthing bike to an official 2010 world cup football, Sports Lab is all about having a go yourself. Visitors will be able to compete in a ‘Tour du Sheffield’ cycle race, test their reaction speed in a ‘Batak’ test, get a rider’s eye view from a bobsleigh, and throw some moves on an electronic dance floor.
Sports Lab was created in partnership with the Centre for Sports Engineering Research at Sheffield Hallam University. Following its debut in Sheffield, the exhibition will tour to the V&A Museum of Childhood to coincide with the London 2012 Olympics.
The exhibition features sporting photographs from award winning photographers such as Paul Floyd Blake and James Dodd.