Science increasingly informs athletic training, and technology is used every day to maintain and even enhance physical performance. In this volume, Scientific American's top writers present in clear, accessible prose information about present--and future--advances that enhance not only athletic performance, but also the vitality of the rest of the population.Body, mind, gear, and thechnique are explored. Specific topics include: Whether science can determine if sports psychology worksHow the cellular biology of muscle may explain why a particular athlete winsWhat skateboarders do to bend the laws of physicsWhy there's concern about a sophisticated new way of cheating - gene doping This highly informative colume provides excellent background on controversial issues in spectator and participartory sports today.