Many runners suffer injuries to their joints due to the repeated impact of their feet hitting the ground, and it take more than just sheer force of will to turn a career-crippling injury into another shot at Olympic competition. U.S. runner Jenny Simpson relied on new treadmill technology to help rehabilitate from a stress fracture as she trained for the 2012 Summer Olympics, where she continued to the semifinals in the 1500m relay.

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.