In a vast majority of sports, such as rowing, cycling, speed skating and swimming, athletes deliver power to overcome drag from air and water. Optimisations in aerody- namics and hydrodynamics can reduce this drag up to 5 percent, making this a major opportunity to improve an athlete’s performance. Moreover, analysis of currents and the development of flow models are determining factors in sailing, kite surfing, but also other areas such as the climate control in of sports facilities, and maintaining water quality in swimming pools.

Delft University of Technology has a long history in the field of aerodynamics. One of the most well known examples is the application of the “strips” on the suits of the Dutch speed skaters at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games. Recently Marianne Vos was measured in the Open Jet Facility to determine the outfit to wear during the 2012 Olympic Games.

At our laboratory for Aero- & Hydrodynamics, sports related research is performed on the topics of turbulence and complex flows. All of this research is done at a fundamental level by using modern methods and techniques.