South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius is the first double-amputee athlete to compete at the Olympics. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Pistorius will race in the 400 meter race and 4×400 meter relay using a pair of carbon fiber prosthetic legs engineered to store and release energy from the impact of his strides.

The National Science Foundation partnered with NBC Learn and NBC Sports to celebrate the science, engineering and technology that are helping athletes maximize their performance at the 2012 London Olympic Games. This free 10-part educational video series explores the engineering and technology concepts behind the games. In addition, the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) will be providing free lesson plans for each video.