It never ceases to amaze me when I look at the differences in Olympic sprinters from my youth and today's versions. The training methods and philosophies changed so dramatically in the 1980s and '90s. Take a look at this men's 100 meter final from the 1976 Montreal games.
The guys then were lean, but not to the extent they appear to be now. The most obvious is the weight training. Contemporary sprinters like Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles would have been mistaken for football players in 1976. When I ran track in high school -- 40-plus years ago -- our old school coach never mentioned weight or strength training. Today, it is essential.
The guys then were lean, but not to the extent they appear to be now. The most obvious is the weight training. Contemporary sprinters like Kenny Bednarek and Noah Lyles would have been mistaken for football players in 1976. When I ran track in high school -- 40-plus years ago -- our old school coach never mentioned weight or strength training. Today, it is essential.
