Simone Biles the gymnastics hero - and the science of soaring

Have you ever watched gymnastics and thought the athletes were flying? Well, you're not far off!

One gymnast who seems to have superpowers is American star Simone Biles. She can flip, twist, and soar through the air in ways that look impossible. But there's no magic here - it's all about science!

Let's dive into the secret behind Simone's amazing abilities.

The Bouncy Science of Gymnastics

When gymnasts perform, they use special floors and equipment that are a bit bouncy. This helps them jump higher and do more tricks. But using these bouncy surfaces isn't as simple as it looks.

Imagine you're on a trampoline. To jump really high you need to time your bounces just right. Gymnasts do the same thing, but with their own bodies on different surfaces - the beam is harder than the floor, for example. They have to push off at exactly the right moment.

Simone Biles on the balance beam during training in Paris. Getty Images

Human Springs in Action

Because the gymnast is on the ground for such a short time during each bounce, they don’t have time for their muscles to push them up into the air. So, gymnasts like Simone Biles can make their legs act like springs. They do this by tightening their muscles in very specific ways. Then when they land on the ground, their muscles and tendons get stretched like rubber bands and then recoil to bounce them upwards.

The way they tighten their muscles - the way they stiffen their ‘leg springs’ - changes depending on whether they're on the floor, the balance beam, or the vault.

But that's only half the challenge. The other half is knowing exactly when to push off. If they push too early or too late, even by a tiny fraction of a second, they won't go as high or spin as fast. It's like pushing someone on a swing - there's a perfect moment to push for maximum height. You will also time your push-off differently when you jump on a trampoline rather than jump on the ground.

Simone's Superpowers

This is where Simone Biles really shines. She's incredibly strong, which helps a lot. But her real superpower is her amazing control over her body. She can make her legs super springy and push off at exactly the right moment, every time. This allows her to do flips and twists that people once thought were impossible!

You can see how Simone Biles bounces like a spring in this video.

It's not just about being strong or practicing a lot (though Simone definitely does both). It's about training your body to be a perfect, and springy, machine, knowing exactly when to tense up and when to explode into action.

The Physics of Flying

When you watch gymnastics, you're seeing physics in action. The gymnasts are using scientific principles like momentum, force, and energy to perform their amazing feats. And they use the energy stored in their muscles to launch themselves into the air.

Simone Biles has mastered this to an incredible degree. She can generate more force when she pushes off, spin faster in the air, and control her body with amazing precision. It's like she can control gravity itself!

Simone Biles flies.

The Olympic Challenge

Everyone will be watching Simone Biles at the Paris Olympics in 2024 to see what incredible moves she performs – it will almost certainly be her last Olympics, so it might be the last chance to see the greatest gymnast of all time perform her amazing routines.

But when you watch all the gymnasts, remember that you're not just seeing cool tricks - you're watching science in action!

So the next time you see Simone Biles or any gymnast soaring through the air, think about all the science happening in that moment.

Who knows? Maybe understanding the science behind gymnastics will inspire you to become a great athlete or scientist someday. After all, every leap forward in sports and science starts with curiosity and a willingness to try new things!