The Potential Impact of Smart Sensors, AI, and Other Technology on the London Marathon

London Marathon Embraces Technology with Digital Twins and AI

As runners in the London Marathon picked up their numbers this week, their hearts were – no doubt – beating a little faster than normal, ahead of their big test. One notable heart was among them: Des Linden, Olympian, world record holder, and Boston Marathon winner.

But Linden isn’t running the race. Instead, her heart thudding away was a hologram, based on a complete digital recreation of her heart, created using MRI scans and other technology. It is a virtual replica of the real thing – what experts call a “digital twin”.

The hope is that, in the future, these digital twins will allow for their physical counterparts to perform better than ever. This example was created by TCS to celebrate the marathon, but futurists believe that these virtual copies could be made on a larger scale, even up to the size of the Earth, allowing for a better understanding of major interventions without the cost or risk.

The London Marathon is rapidly becoming a technological playground, with new super shoes, artificial intelligence, and digital twins transforming the sport beyond recognition. While the future of the marathon may still involve people running on a road, advancements in technology could provide runners with personalized recommendations and coaching based on detailed data collected from sensors and wearable devices.

The integration of artificial intelligence in sports, as highlighted by the International Olympic Committee, could revolutionize talent spotting and enhance the viewing experience for fans. While concerns about data privacy and inequality in access to technology remain, proponents argue that AI could also help level the playing field by identifying talent in underserved communities.

As nearly 50,000 participants gear up to run the marathon, some may rely on advanced technology to optimize their performance, while others may choose to run without any data at all. Regardless of the level of technological assistance, all runners will face the same challenge of completing the 26.2-mile race.