Pablo Torre Finds Out Vox's Unexplainable Presents: Jumping the Gun
Jul 24, 2025
Noam Hassenfeld and Brian Resnick, reporters for Vox's Unexplainable podcast, dive into the dramatic disqualification of sprinter TyNia Gaither due to a controversial false start. They tackle how misunderstandings in science and sports regulations lead to confusion. The discussion spans psychological preparation for athletes, the emotional fallout of false starts, and innovative ideas for measuring race starts. They also question the role of technology in ensuring fairness in sports, illuminating the complexities of competition.
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TyNia Gaither's Controversial Disqualification
- TyNia Gaither was disqualified for a false start despite starting 0.093 seconds after the gun went off.
- The crowd protested, believing she did not false start as her start seemed instantaneous with the gun.
Origin of 0.1-Second Rule
- Reaction time to the start gun involves multiple complex steps from sound processing to muscle activation.
- The 0.1 second false start limit stems from a 1960s company test, lacking rigorous scientific support.
Complexity of Measuring Reaction Times
- Reaction times vary with factors like sound loudness and athlete readiness.
- The first movement when starting a race is the hands pushing off, which occurs 50 milliseconds before the feet move.