Is there a prize for the silliest question of the year?

'Cos I may win it with this effort.

Just saw Thiam win gold, sporting a crop of braids. As a balding male, I'd imagine that adds something in terms of weight, drag, whatever, that might affect one of the running or jumping competitions. Or does it?

Working class heroes

Conor74 wrote: »

'Cos I may win it with this effort.

Just saw Thiam win gold, sporting a crop of braids. As a balding male, I'd imagine that adds something in terms of weight, drag, whatever, that might affect one of the running or jumping competitions. Or does it?

The skittles cancel the braids out.

Murph_D

Conor74 wrote: »

'Cos I may win it with this effort.

Just saw Thiam win gold, sporting a crop of braids. As a balding male, I'd imagine that adds something in terms of weight, drag, whatever, that might affect one of the running or jumping competitions. Or does it?

She won gold. Again. Mustn't make much difference (as long as it's tied up, I suppose). On the other hand, Thompson ran the 100m in a hairband with a big bow in it, and that certainly didn't seem to help.

Ash.J.Williams

Funny I was thinking that same question only different... If engineers were advising Usain bolt on how to gain Nano seconds over 100m they would be horrified to see him wear a gold chain

cjt156

That was the first thing I thought of when she was in full flight. There was a parachute on the back of her head.
The physics graduate in me said; Now, if she was bald...(and travelling in a vacuum...)

huskerdu

I agree. I have shoulder length thick hair. In the very unlikely event of me being a world class athlete, I would definitely be cutting it short. Mind you, Thiams hair looks great.

I was amazed to see Jess Judd run with her long hair not even in a ponytail. She must be just used to it, but I find it an annoyance and would have thought it would be an impediment at that level if your hair is flying in your face.

Agree about Bolt and the necklace.

Keeks

I remember reading somewhere before that it is faster to have hair braided rather than a pony tail....can't remember where i read this or the science behind it....

Bananaleaf

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

Funny I was thinking that same question only different... If engineers were advising Usain bolt on how to gain Nano seconds over 100m they would be horrified to see him wear a gold chain

Have wondered this about Bolt every time I've seen him run.

Djoucer

Answer is no. TLDR version is that hair is so light it has very little impact.

Fun article here

http://www.slate.com/blogs/five_ring_circus/2012/08/06/sanya_richards_ross_2012_olympics_does_hair_slow_you_down_assessing_the_impact_of_an_enormous_mane_.html

walshb

Conor74 wrote: »

'Cos I may win it with this effort.

Just saw Thiam win gold, sporting a crop of braids. As a balding male, I'd imagine that adds something in terms of weight, drag, whatever, that might affect one of the running or jumping competitions. Or does it?

I was thinking to ask the same thing and then realised how successful an athlete she is with that thing on her head...