Michael Phelps is the most decorated sportsman in the history of the Olympic Games, with 28 medals, including 23 golds, won between 2004 and 2016. But the new speed record belongs to Romanian David Popovici, the fastest man in the 100m freestyle in 46'86", set at the European Championships in Rome on 13 August 2022.
At the Olympic Games, the record is 47'02'', held by American Caeleb Dressel, and 51'96'' by Australian Emma McKeon, set at the Tokyo Games in 2020. The Paralympic record for the S10 100m is 50'64", held by Ukrainian Maksym Krypak, who set it in Tokyo.
And what about nature?
With peak speeds of 120 km/h, the sailfish swordfish is the fastest fish in the world, winning the 100 m freestyle in 3'27"! Recognisable by its huge, sail-like dorsal fin, Istiophorus platypterus is a pelagic, migratory fish. It is most often found on the high seas, in the tropical and temperate waters of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean.
Yes, Nature is definitely stronger than we are!
Nature is our best model for performance, excellence and resilience, and the essential ally of our future. Through "biomimicry", let's take inspiration from living things and protect them to reinvent a sustainable world of shared prosperity for humanity and all life.
See all the other new world records set by these biodiversity athletes in the CHAMPIONING & INSPIRING NATURE gallery.
This CHAMPION NATURE is also an INSPIRING NATURE ....
What ideas could have inspired this driving force of undulation?
3 examples in 3 very different areas:
In human health, with Corwave, for a revolutionary new heart pump:
CorWave offers innovative cardiac assistance devices. CorWave pumps use undulating membrane technology that mimics the undulating swimming action of marine animals. These pumps are smaller, more energy-efficient and capable of restoring blood flow while preserving the heart's pulsatility, providing a truly physiological blood flow that is smoother and more fluid.
In energy, with the EEL Energy tidal membrane:
Eel Energy drew inspiration from this undulation to develop the first biomimetic undulating tidal turbine, which produces energy as currents flow by converting hydrokinetic energy into mechanical and then electrical energy.
In the marine sector, with the new generation of FinX corrugated motors:
FinX, a young French start-up, is developing boat engines that mimic this wave-like movement. The result: less noise, less energy, and no more injuries or accidents for marine biodiversity and bathers!
Only one champion has come close to Nature's record ...
Antoine Albeau! France's most successful sportsman! He has won 26 gold medals at the world windsurfing championships and holds the speed record in his discipline. In November 2012, on the Lüderitz spot in Namibia, the sportsman reached an average speed over 500 metres of 52.05 knots, or 96.396 km/h.
In terms of instantaneous speed, he was clocked at 54.14 knots, or 100.26 km/h, becoming the first person to exceed 100 km/h on a windsurfer.
On the trail of Life, Nature has not finished inspiring us for the future!
See you at Biomim'expo on 11 and 12 June 2024.
NATURE, OUR CHAMPION AND MODEL FOR THE FUTURE
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