At first, the use of the now legal starting blocks was somewhat controversial as the claim was that they gave an unfair advantage so some of the sprinters. Sprinters in the first leg of the 4×2 and 4×4 could also use starting blocks. The IAAF clarified that starting blocks could be used for any races up to and 400 meter dash. This was a key factor into use for the next Olympics in London in 1948. However, the credit was given to Charlie Booth in 1929, which was two years after Bresnahan’s US Patent.įinally, by 1937 the IAAF accepted the use of the starting blocks. There are also some notion that the starting block was actually invented by Charley Paddock in 1920. However, this was still meaningless at the time as anyone setting a record using them had the record excluded.Ĭharley Paddock was considered as one of first Olympic sprinters to use a starting block. According to Bresnahan’s Patent, US 2144962, it makes the claim is that “this invention relates to new and useful improvements in starting blocks used in connection with athletic running tracks.” At this point, this is one of most high-tech starting blocks out there. Its claim was to help the sprinter’s “get away” movement whether it be on cinder or clay and of “what might be termed a starting block.”įile:///C:/Users/joseph.fuller/Downloads/US1701026A.pdfīy Feb 9th 1938, Bresnahan improved upon is early concepts. One of earliest and widely considered the first official patent for the starting blocks came from George Bresnahan on April 29 th, 1927.

Now, as time progressed, during the 1920’s, even though the use of starting blocks was not yet made legal, the number of sprinters using starting blocks began to rise. This is why a starting block feature was used. Furthermore, the stadian was a 200-yard, or 180 meter race. Although, it may be the roots of the namesake. Hence why it is not truly considered the first starting block. As it was used in the ancient Olympic Games not considered the Modern Games, or any modern running track meet. In the ancient running event known as the stadion where was a “starting block” type of feature. Starting blocks help competitive sprinters to accelerate quickly by giving them an extra push-off the ground at the start of the race. Starting blocks may be a tool that many sprinters take for granted, or even dread practicing on.

From the track conditions, to starting lanes, to one of the most important tools for sprinters, the starting blocks.

Just as technology improves so do the tools that the athletes use and compete on. Since the incarnation of the original Olympic Games of ancient Greece, for nearly eleven centuries dating back as far as 776 B.C., the sprinting events have been widely popular among athletes and viewers. This allows athletes to wear very short spikes which do not pierce the surface further boosting their performance.Track and field is one of the oldest and most well-known sport events in the Olympic Games. Whereas, today's athlete's have the benefit of running on tracks made from 2 layers of vulcanised rubber that is a piece of cutting-edge technology which creates a very fast track. The cinder tracks in Jesse's day created more resistance, were slippery which meant that runs over any distance were naturally slower than modern tracks. Just think if Jesse had the benefit of today's training techniques, being able to wear hi-tech spikes and was able to use starting blocks, but more importantly run on today's modern fast tracks. Jesse ran the 100 metres in 10.3 seconds which equaled the world record running on a cinder track with no starting blocks. I am confident that most people will have heard of the remarkable Jesse Owens, the superstar athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.Īs I have been watching the Rio Olympics I have wondered what times Jesse would have recorded if he had the benefit of today's technology?

Cinder track starting blocks