We have done more research on ski jumping than anywhere else in the world. We would have had even more to offer to the Finnish ski jumping establishment, Professor Paavo Komi comments.
Sport has indeed been one of the significant and visible areas in which research studies carried out at the University of Jyväskyläs Department of Biology of Physical Activity have been applied. Between 1983 and 2003 Professor Paavo Komi served as a member of the International Olympic Committees medical commission. Thanks to membership of this body Komi and his research teams were able to conduct research at a number of Olympic Games.
The Department of Biology of Physical Activity has in any event given a great deal to Finnish winter sports, since Komis former students include Mika Kojonkoski, considered one of the best ski jumping coaches in the world, Pekka Vähäsöyrinki, rector of Vuokatti Sports Institute and former head Nordic ski coach, and Jyri Pelkonen, manager of Vuokatti Sports Institutes Training Centre and former head coach for Nordic combined.
Research into top-level sport has carefully examined human performance, for which reason Komi, too, has been requested to define the limits of human performance as well as comment on whether limits can even be set.
Setting limits is rather artificial and questionable, since so many different factors should be taken into account. Improvements in equipment and external conditions as well as the development of training methods blur the significance of physiological factors, Komi maintains.
The absolute record for the marathon is estimated at two hours five minutes for men and one minute more for women. According to some estimates the limit for the world record over 100 metres lies somewhere in the region of 9.30 seconds.
Komi points out, however, that the number of variables is too big to be able to set such clear limits. Running surfaces can constantly be made faster, for example. At best, the ideal surface in terms of elasticity could be developed for each distance on the track.
A hot topic of debate in the research world with a bearing on sport is currently the possibilities offered by gene manipulation. These will be explored at the 12th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, the biggest event of its kind in Europe, to be held in Jyväskylä in July. According to Komi the threat of gene manipulation in sport is smaller than imagined. The side effects and dangers associated with manipulation are too great. In free societies the risk of being caught for doping is significant.
However, Komi considers it essential to investigate the possibilities presented by gene manipulation from the perspective of medical development and overcoming diseases.
By Tommi Salo Photo by Matti Salmi