Steel Keeps Sailors Edging Forward

Since the dawn of the modern Olympic Games in 1896, sailors have been testing their skills in the Games’ largest playing field. Within the sport of sailing, there are eight different classes of events determined by the shape and size of the yacht.

Each class of yacht has its own rules and regulations that include the types of material that can be used in the construction of the boat. But there is one material that is present in all eight classes – stainless steel.

Most of the yacht classes’ rigging, which includes the masts, yards, sails and cordage, require the same material to be used – stainless steel wire rope. With the force that the sea wind puts on the sails, it is important for the speed of the yacht and for the safety of the sailors that the ropes be as strong as possible, making stainless steel the perfect rigging choice.

The 470 class, a yacht with two crew members measuring 4.7 meters in length, requires that the rudder stock and tiller be made of stainless steel. The rudder stock and tiller are used to steer the yachts aggressively through the course, incurring significant pressure from the weight of the manned craft, the current of the sea and the force of the wind. It is imperative that these components be made of the lightest and strongest material available – stainless steel.

Shoes Built for a Full Gallop

The Olympic sport of equestrian is as unique as it is majestic. Riders and horses perform together in three event categories, and have developed the ability to feel each other’s emotions over countless hours of training.

Equestrian is the only Olympic sport in which men and women compete against each other on a level playing field while competing in three disciplines, eventing, jumping and dressage.

Both the horses and riders are tested for strength, endurance and skill, and like any other athlete, horses require special shoes in order to compete. Equestrian horseshoes must be reliable, safe and durable – making steel the perfect material.

Steel horseshoes act as a traction device for the horses on varying terrain, and allow them to cup more earth while galloping. Horseshoes enable the horses to hold their footing, prevent any slippage and improve their overall performance during competition.

As Olympic equestrian events are incredibly competitive in nature, the horseshoes are typically worn for longer periods of time. Because of the duration that a horse wears the shoes, steel is the preferred choice as it stronger and staves off the possibility of infections occurring.

Steel horseshoes have also been thought of as a symbol of good luck when hung with the ends pointing up. Although Olympic equestrian riders rely on their long-perfected skill and talent to perform, having a little extra help attached to the bottom of their horse’s hooves might prove useful.

A Metal Trusted by Gymnasts

Steel’s strength and versatility make it the top choice for international gymnastics competition equipment. Gymnasts are constantly risking injury by performing exciting aerial stunts on bars, beams and vaults. The equipment they use must be flexible and able to withstand the force that is exerted during each routine and exercise.

The uneven bars is a spectacular event that showcases the athletes’ strength, awareness and skill by swinging and flipping between bars set at different heights. Although the bar itself is made from a flexible composite material, the frame is made from stainless steel.

The spring balance beam’s structure is also made from steel. Not only are the legs and frame made from the ultra-strong metal, so is the spring that launches the athletes in the air as they perform feats of true balance and discipline.

The steel structures in gymnastics allow the gymnasts to put their years of training and practice to use when trying to achieve the ultimate dream – winning a gold medal.

The Most Important Olympic Metal

From magnificent Olympic venues, to sabers, shot puts and yachts, steel is used almost everywhere in the Olympic Games.

There is a reason that steel is the first choice when it comes to construction and equipment – it’s lightweight, corrosion-resistant and strong enough to withstand the abuse given by world-class athletes. With the predominant use of steel in the Games, it can be considered the most important metal in the Olympics. Although it is not necessary fought over like the other top three, it is the catalyst from which dreams and everlasting memories are created.

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A Macro Look into Olympic Steel

In 2012, the city of London took initiative in creating a sustainable “green games” to offset the impact the Olympics can have on its host city. Planning for the Olympic site began by choosing an area where improvement was needed and beneficial for the community, rather than reclaiming land that might have negative repercussions for surrounding areas.

Four main stadiums were constructed for the 2012 games using sustainable methods which reduced carbon emissions and other environmental impacts. Steel played a major role in all four stadium designs, setting a standard for what future Olympic stadiums can strive to achieve.

Climate Home closely examined the Olympic Stadium, Aquatics Center, Velodrome and Basketball Arena, providing an in-depth look at how each was constructed.

With a capacity to hold 80,000 spectators, the Olympic Stadium intertwined elements of temporary and permanent into its design, minimizing the need for excess construction materials. The stadium’s construction only consumed 10,000 tons of steel, making it the lightest Olympic stadium to date. The sustainable use of steel allowed the stadium to be partially deconstructed when the Games were over, leaving the main structure intact and ready for two local football clubs that took ownership after the Games.

The renowned and highly-regarded architect Zaha Hadid was commissioned to design London 2012’s Aquatic Center. Built to contain over 10 million liters of water, the Aquatic Center was the event’s second largest venue. Also designed only for temporary use, the stadium’s seating was made using steel and phthalate-free PVC wrap that could be dissembled when the Games were over.

The most iconic of the London 2012 venues as well as the most sustainable is the Velodrome, built for track cycling events. Climate Home mentions that the most striking feature of the Velodrome, which is still regularly used, is the use of a cable-net roof design – ‘strung’ with steel cables like a tennis racket – meaning conventional steel beams were not required. The Velodrome’s innovative steel design cut overall construction time down by 20 weeks.

Lastly and the most temporary of the four steel Olympic structures is the Basketball Arena. The venue, which was used almost every day during the Games’ duration, was made up of 1,000 tons of steel and was covered in 20,000 square meters of recyclable white PVC fabric. After the venue’s deconstruction, various parts were relocated and reused for other events.

A Micro Look into Olympic Steel

Looking deeper into how steel is used in the Olympics outside of venues and large facilities, you will find the illustrious metal being lifted beyond human strength, lunging at torsos and hurled across grassy fields. Steel is used in many sports like track and field, weightlifting and fencing, allowing athletes to truly test their limits.

Fencing, a sport that dates back centuries, has three disciplines: sabre, foil and epee. Each discipline requires a different weapon that varies in size, weight and design. All three weapons have one thing in common – they are made of maraging steel, an ultra-strength alloy used in aeronautics and military weapons. Wired.com says that what makes the steel ideal for fencing is a crack in the blade tends to spread 10 times slower than a crack in carbon steel, so the blades are more robust and won’t break as often.

On the heavier side, specialty steels are used to make the bar that holds the barbells in Olympic weightlifting events. The steel bars used are designed to withstand 1-1/2 tons with breaking or losing its shape. Often, the bars will bend while being lifted; however, they are made to do so with built-in elasticity that allows the bar to spring back into shape after each lift.

Making its way to track and field, steel cannonball-like shot puts can be seen flying through the air. The shot put ball is made of different kinds of materials depending on its intended use, however, the most common type of balls are made of cast iron, solid steel and stainless steel. Men’s competition shot weighs 7.26 kilograms and the women’s shot weighs 4 kilograms. The objective is to hurl the ball as far as possible within a certain number of tries.

Gold, Silver, Bronze and Steel

Steel has an incredibly important role in the Olympic Games. Without it, stadiums and other venues would not have the strength or durability to contain elite athletes, global media and excited spectators. Sporting events like fencing, weightlifting and select track and field events would limited by the use of other metals, and would not permit the competitors to push their limits and achieve the impossible.

The use of steel in future Olympic Games will continue to play an integral part on both a macro scale with stadium and venue construction, and on a micro scale with varying sporting equipment – making it possibly the fourth most important metal in the games after gold, silver and bronze.

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