Scientists from SMU, Rice, and the University of Wyoming have discovered that humans have potential to run at a rate exceeding 35-40+ MILES PER HOUR.  They were inspired by Usain Bolt’s near-28 mph achievements to see just how far the human body could be pushed.

“If one considers that elite sprinters can apply peak forces of 800 to 1,000 pounds with a single limb during each sprinting step, it’s easy to believe that runners are probably operating at or near the force limits of their muscles and limbs,” he said. “However, our new data clearly show that this is not the case. Despite how large the running forces can be, we found that the limbs are capable of applying much greater ground forces than those present during top-speed forward running.” …

According to Matthew Bundle, an assistant professor of biomechanics at the University of Wyoming, “The very close agreement in the briefest periods of foot-ground contact at top speed in these two very different gaits points to a biological limit on how quickly the active muscle fibers can generate the forces necessary to get the runner back up off the ground during each step.”

The researchers said the new work shows that running speed limits are set by the contractile speed limits of the muscle fibers themselves, with fiber contractile speeds setting the limit on how quickly the runner’s limb can apply force to the running surface.–Science Daily

But why?  Why do people need to run this fast or push themselves to these limits?  As far as the article is concerned, they present no predictions of long-term effects on the human body.  Athletes today operate under great amounts of pressure to perform at higher and higher levels.  The stress they put on their bodies is great, and can even be fatal.  At what point is it too much?  They endure massive amounts of training, and even resort to steroids and HGH, in order to achieve peak physical fitness and ultimately peak performance.  However, this can be a bit myopic and the long-term effects are far greater than the short term results.  Is it worth it?  Maybe pushing the human limits and enduring all of the pain is part of the evolution and innovation process, but at what cost?

A couple of people have sent me this clip from a Japanese TV show, either because (a) they know that anything that parodies Usain Bolt has a better-than-average chance of being linked up, or (b) they’re aware of my unwavering, disgusting fascination with blackface. And honestly, the entire movie industry was founded on blackface. Yes, it’s reprehensible in this day and age for someone in America to do it, but I don’t remember Japan kidnapping and then enslaving boatloads of Africans to build their agricultural output that would serve as the foundation for their economy for generations to come and help nurture the industrialization that would make them the world’s last true hegemon. Americans should never do blackface again, but only because it’s so damn cheap to let other nations do it for us. –Sporting Blog, Last Angry Fan.

Remember that world record that Usain Bolt set over the weekend in the 100, breaking a world record that he set in the Olympics? He just set another one, this time in the 200…again, breaking his own record. Bolt has run in five sprints, and won all five…each with another world record.

“Just coming out there, I’m just waiting for the lights to flash ‘game over,’ cause I felt like I was in a video game,” said Shawn Crawford, who finished fourth. “That guy was moving — fast.” via.

It’s only a matter of time before he gets popped for drugs, right? How can one guy be so quick for such a span of time…and then get FASTER month after month? So far, nobody’s accused Bolt of being a woman, which makes sense. It’s not like he’s scrubbing countertops or anything.

Saint Andrew’s Net is WL’s daily link stew. It buys all of its cars at police auctions.

• Jamaica’s Usain Bolt broke his own 100-meter record yesterday in Berlin. And no, he didn’t shake hands with Hitler.
  Fourth Place Medal.
• Here’s a video interview from one of the dudes working on the MMA game for Electronic Arts. He’s awfully old-looking; for what platform are they making this game, the Commodore 64?
  Watch Kalib Run.
• The NFL needs to embrace this new way of launching uniforms. Thanks, Kevin.
  The Spoiler.
• Here’s another take on that Kevin Youkilis “fight” from last week.
  The Rookies.



• Tony LaRussa took a phone call during a press conference last week. With everyone having a cell phone now, I’m surprised this sort of thing doesn’t happen more often.
  The Big Picture.
• David Wright took a fastball to the helmet on Saturday. Why did he do that? Because they’re the Mets.
  Open Sports.
• Spanish golfer Beatriz Recari is 22, which is a little old for me, but I love the way that she looks at me like she’s going to kill me. It just makes me want her more.
  Sportress of Blogitude.

Send tips, submissions, and headshots to WithLeather-Tips@Uproxx.com.

When it's not busy sending emails threatening litigation to websites who dare try to showcase Olympic videos, or ignoring China's blatant fabrication of gymnasts' ages, the International Olympics Committee is shitting on one of the most compelling athletes of these Games.  IOC president Jacgues Rogge didn't take kindly to Usain Bolt flaunting his easy victories, even though Bolt is the first person in the history of mankind to set world records in the 100 and 200 at the same Olympics.

"That's not the way we perceive being a champion," Rogge said… "I understand the joy, [but] you don't do that. But he'll learn. He's still a young man." [...]

"He still has to mature," Rogge said. "I would love him to show more respect for his competitors. That's not the way we perceive being a champion. But he will learn in time. He should shake hands with his competitors and not ignore them. He'll learn that sooner or later. But (he's) a great athlete, of course."

Rogge added that Michael Phelps was "pretty good, I guess" as he rolled his eyes and made a wanking gesture. 

[Also see: The Sporting Blog] 

NBC chose not to air Usain Bolt's historic record-setting 200-meter performance online so that Bob Costas and company could be the "first" to air it during tonight's coverage.  But the thing about the Internet is that they kinda have it all over the world, and other countries actually televise the events as they happen.  So here's the video in some European language (via TSB), which should last a couple more minutes until the IOC's lawyers go after YouTube.  Once that happens, I'll switch it over to Awful Announcing's version in German.  Then if that doesn't work I'll switch it over to the Buzzcuts player.

Seriously, this is an amazing race.  It's one thing to hear that he set a world record, but to watch him destroy the field is jaw-dropping.  I understand copyright law is going to disagree with me here, but there's really no good reason we should have to wait another nine hours for NBC to let us see it.  I'm gonna get sued now, aren't I?  Dammit. 

UPDATE: Those IOC lawyers are good at their jobs.