Skip to main content

For Olympians and pro baseball players, winter training wears many hats

The world’s top athletes all have their own ways of preparing themselves for world-class competition. Some simply need a bit of rest and relaxation to recover from the slog of a grueling season while others train year-round to meet the demands of a seemingly never-ending competition schedule.

But for a niche sport like short track racing, Samsung is here to help. It developed what looks to be essentially a motion-tracking suit much like what is used to record computer graphic imagery — dubbed it the SmartSuit — and enabled every movement to be tracked by a smartphone. The device is being used by a couple Dutch skaters to log some winter training in preparation for February’s Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Recommended Videos

The suit reportedly tracks each skater’s movement down to the millimeter and sends the data to a smartphone, allowing a coach or athlete to analyze each skating stride to see how they can better pull off those razor-sharp turns. Given that each suit needs to be precisely designed for each individual, it’s not up for public consumption yet.

While strapping yourself inside a high-tech bodysuit is one way to prepare, the Cleveland Indians’ Francisco Lindor, meanwhile, is taking a more holistic approach.

Rather than stay inside and play the latest and greatest video games like many 24-year-olds, the All-Star shortstop, coming off a career year in 2017 after hitting 33 home runs and knocking in 89 runs, spent part of his offseason in Tokyo studying the martial art of aikido. He shared a few snippets of the experience on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcqlmWxBwA1/?taken-by=lindor12bc

While there are plenty of martial arts devoted to combat and competition, aikido focuses on the art of self-defense and instructs its students on how to deflect and transfer incoming energy (like a punch thrown at your face) with minimal effort while leaving the attacker unharmed. Or, in baseball terms, how to turn on a 100 mph fastball with the most efficient swing possible or snag a sharp ground ball and seamlessly flip it to the second baseman to start a double play.

Aikido was developed by martial artist Morihei Ueshiba, and it is often translated to mean “the way of harmonious spirit.” It requires a sharp, relaxed mind, as an aikido practitioner is taught to stay relaxed in even the most pressure-filled situations (like Game 7 of the World Series, for instance, which Lindor has some experience with).  And it sounds a like a more fun and culturally engaging time to prepare for the upcoming season than standing in a batting cage with a pitching machine and then studying all the analytical data that comes from the impact sensor attached to your bat.

Although Lindor is already one of the game’s top players, judging by his Instagram post below, he still has a long ways to go before he’s anywhere close to that level in aikido.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcvnDbzBKlW/?taken-by=lindor12bc

Jacob May
Jacob joined Digital Trends after beginning his career as a sports reporter and copy editor in the newspaper industry and…
Aventon Abound SR e-bike (Winner Selected)
aventon abound sr e bike giveaway january 2025 dt

If you've been trying to save up for an electric bike but life keeps getting in the way, why not try your luck in this giveaway for the Aventon Abound SR? It's made by one of the top makers of electric bikes, and here's your chance to get one as a prize!

Joining the giveaway is extremely easy, so there's really no reason not to enter if you've always wanted an e-bike. We wish you the best of luck in this giveaway!
Giveaway Has Ended
Enter here to win the Aventon Abound SR

Read more
Aventon goes all in on smart security and connectivity on Level 3 commuter e-bike
Aventon Level 3 right profile with Queen Mary in the background.

Aventon invited me to a pre-launch press briefing on its new Level.3 commuter e-bike in Long Beach, California. The Level.3 has several significant upgrades from the Level.2, including increased range and an adjustable suspension seat post, but the greatest upgrade is the Aventon Control Unit (ACU).

The ACU is a proprietary technology that incorporates 4G, Bluetooth connectivity, and GPS tracking. It enables a host of security, convenience, and personalization features. The Level 3 isn't the first Aventon model with the ACU; the Abound SR utility and cargo e-bike was the initial ACU-equipped e-bike.

Read more
Anker Solix EverFrost 2 Giveaway (Winner Selected)
anker solix everfrost 2 electric cooler giveaway february 2025 1024a241 40be 4543 9e71 cf91899c8f33

Would you believe that Anker, an electronics brand that's known for its power banks, also has an electric cooler? Known as the Anker Solix EverFrost, it's the perfect companion for backyard parties and outdoor adventures. It's so good that it's getting a sequel in the form of the Anker Solix EverFrost 2, and you've got a chance to win one!

Anker's giveaway for the Anker Solix EverFrost 2 runs from February 27 to March 27, which means you've got a month to send in your entries. You're going to want to do so as early as you can just to make sure that you don't forget. There will be only one lucky winner of the all-new electric cooler, so we wish you the best of luck!

Read more