In ancient Greece, the original Olympic games were a no-tech event. Athletes competed in the nude in sports such as running and wrestling, and there was no such thing as a carbon-fiber bicycle.

That isn't the case today. In every sport, the athletes use all sorts of technology to improve performance. Let's look at some of the equipment that will make 2008 the fastest Olympics to date.

Swimsuits: Many swimmers are using LZR Racer suits from Speedo that feature a very tight fit, a slippery synthetic fabric and ultrasonically welded seams to streamline the body. There is also a structural feature sewn into the suit that helps to keep the legs aligned with the upper body. Since even a thousandth of a second can mean the difference between winning and losing, every tiny bit helps. Many world records have fallen since the suit's introduction.

Cooling suits: Any athlete who is competing outdoors faces the heat, which can slow an athlete down. Any energy the body spends on keeping the body cool is energy wasted. And overheating could lead to a breakdown. So several manufacturers have introduced cooling suits meant to be worn before the race. Nike's is the simplest, a water-filled vest put in the freezer. Once the water has turned to ice, you wear the vest for about an hour before the race. It pre-cools the torso, meaning that it takes longer for the body to overheat.

Hypoxic tents: Athletes have been using low-oxygen training for decades. The athlete trains at high altitude, where there is less oxygen, prompting the body to boost the number of red blood cells in the bloodstream. When the athlete comes down to sea level, the extra red blood cells increase performance by improving oxygen flow to the muscles. The only problem is that as soon as the athlete comes down, the body starts reducing the number of red blood cells again, and the effect is soon lost. Now athletes can use a hypoxic tent, made of sealed plastic. An air handler reduces the amount of oxygen in the tent to simulate any altitude. By sleeping in the tent, the athlete's body keeps the red cell count high.

Shoes: A longstanding effort has been to make shoes lighter. This year, materials like carbon nanotubes and Vectran have brought the weight down to the lowest levels ever. And Adidas has been experimenting with asymmetric shoes for track athletes. The idea is that the athlete spends a significant amount of time running in the turns, and in a turn you want one kind of shoe on the left foot and a different kind of shoe on the right.

Bicycles: Cyclng has always been a hotbed of innovation, and carbon frames are now standard equipment to make the bikes lighter. But every little bit helps. For example, there is now a new front wheel that has just eight spokes - four on each side. For comparison, a "normal" bicycle might have 32 spokes per wheel. Fewer spokes means less weight and less air resistance. And the rear wheels have morphed into composite discs that are made in one piece and bonded to the hub. These are the lightest and most aerodynamic rear wheels yet.