Aerodynamically, A Bigger Penis And Larger Breasts Are A Sports Advantage
There is a saying, usually associated with sex, and usually said with a wink and a nod, that states “size matters.” The humorous statement is usually expressed by females and is obviously made in reference to penis size.
On the flip side, men often notice and comment amongst themselves on the size of a woman’s breasts if she is amply endowed. However, in the latter case, men do not place the same importance on breast size when it comes to performance.
Having said that, we have learned this year that in certain sports the size of both a man’s penis and a woman’s breasts, when on the larger size, can offer a competitive advantage.
In February, I wrote a column discussing the penis issue. At that time, the controversy had been dubbed “Penisgate” because it involved ski jumpers gaining an advantage by adding extra material to the crotch area of their suits.
Allegedly, some competitive ski jumpers may have artificially enlarged their crotch area by injecting their genitals with an engorging chemical, hyaluronic acid, or stuffing their underwear to create bigger bulges. The German newspaper BILD was the first to report on this odd enhancement method, which is now under investigation by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
According to Prof Eric Chung, a urological surgeon, hyaluronic acid is a common filler used in cosmetic surgery, including injections being used for penile girth enlargement surgery.
Injecting a penis with hyaluronic acid would make it bigger girth-wise, “but you would need to inject a lot of hyaluronic acid,” says Chung, who was previously the leader of the andrology specialty advisory group for the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand.
Hyaluronic acid is temporary in effect and requires a top-up every 6 to 12 months, depending on the particles’ absorption and migration.
Upon hearing this, my initial thought was probably the same as yours. Besides gaining locker room bragging rights, how would having an engorged penis enhance the ability to fly higher or further during a jump? Well, it turns out that the extra material in the crotch may improve aerodynamics, and in a sport where medals are often decided by centimeters, any advantage can be crucial.
According to the regulations set by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), which oversees ski jumping, “crotch height” measurements for an athlete’s suit are taken using laser technology. This means that if an athlete’s crotch measurement is slightly larger at the time of measurement, they will receive a suit that is slightly roomier than it would be otherwise.
Suits must adhere strictly to body measurements within a tolerance of 2-4 cm. A 5 percent increase in surface area can provide extra lift, resulting in longer flights. In a sport where results are decided by centimeters or fractions of a point, minuscule differences in distance or suit measurements determine podium spots. A single centimeter of extra material on a suit can increase jump length by over 3 meters (9.8 ft), significantly impacting results.
“It has a huge impact,” says Lasse Ottesen, now race director for the Nordic Combined event at FIS and a former Olympic ski jumper. Athletes, coaches, and regulators are aware of the situation.
In January, prior to the “Penisgate” scandal gaining attention, several officials from Norway’s ski jumping team were temporarily banned from competition for altering athletes’ suits by adding extra stitching in the crotch area during last year’s Nordic World Ski Championships.
This incident went “way beyond what we have ever seen before,” according to Ottesen, who noted that the International Ski Federation (FIS) is working to refine ski jumping regulations. This includes ensuring that “everyone is measured in the correct way.”
The extra fabric has been compared to the patagium of a flying squirrel, the specialized, fur-covered skin membrane that stretches between its front and hind limbs, from wrist to ankle. It functions similarly to a kite or parachute, turning a vertical jump into a horizontal glide.
The women must have been paying attention because now there are accusations that padded bras are being used for an aerodynamic advantage, taking the cycling world by storm as the Tour de France Femmes takes place across Switzerland and France.
The Dutch outlet Wielerflits reported receiving multiple complaints from women’s WorldTeams about female cyclists allegedly enhancing their performance in time trials by using padding in their bras to fake a larger breast size.
A rounder chest can provide aerodynamic advantages through a phenomenon known as chest fairing, according to Bert Blocken, a professor of aerodynamics at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland and LUT in Finland.
The use of padded bras is prohibited by the regulations of the International Cycling Union (UCI). These rules specify that riders cannot place objects on their chests or use clothing to alter their body shape.
Blocken added:
“We are talking about a Chest Fairing, which alters the airflow around the body, thereby reducing overpressure on the thighs. As a result, the rider experiences less air resistance.”
“It is not that you gain a benefit of tens of seconds with this in a time trial, but in a ride of 20 to 30 kilometers, it can yield seconds that can be decisive.”
He’s proved it with extensive research into chest fairings. The research showed, the Dutch outlet reports, that you can achieve a reduction in air resistance of up to 3.6 percent.
Teams concerned about the deception surrounding larger cup sizes are urging the UCI jury to take action. They have proposed a potential solution: the implementation of inspectors who would check for padding in bras.
The idea is to: “Have a female juror check the riders in a closed tent immediately after the time trial to ensure they are not hiding anything in their bras or under their aero clothing.”
When I was growing up, it was corked bats or pine tar for the hitters in baseball and Vaseline or another foreign substance on a pitcher’s glove that was controversial. Steroid injections didn’t start until later, but they absolutely weren’t getting those shots in the penis.
You have to hand it to those male ski jumpers; taking a shot in their privates is a real commitment. Compared to the padded bra thing that the women are trying to pull off, which shows very little imagination or commitment.
