What's behind athletic competition? Chemistry!

Competitive athletes at all levels – and even those who are in it for personal health – are driven by the Olympic motto Citius, Altius, Fortius – faster, higher stronger. The big question is how do they get there? Chemistry professor Dr. Aaron Roerdink – an admitted sports nut, especially during the Olympics – is helping students think critically about this issue for his Honors class, Chemistry in Sports. The class is exploring chemistry’s role in the ways athletes improve – even alter – their performance. They are learning about the biochemistry of legal substances such as caffeine and protein/nutritional supplements as well as the use of new technologies that could enhance performance. They’re also examining a larger, controversial and ethical issue: the use of illegal substances such as steroids and human growth hormones, how they improve performance and affect the body.