Faster, Higher, Stronger: How Sports Science Is Creating a New Generation of Superathletes - and What We Can Learn from Them

Sports has become a huge part of society today. A century ago, excellence in sports could be accomplished individually. Today, there is a whole team involved. Scientists optimize the best training and recovery regime. They mine data for minute improvements. Some bits are only applicable to the most elite athletes. Others are applicable to everyone.
The author also discusses doping and the line between allowed and not allowed substances. In one survey done earlier, many athletes said they would be willing to take a substance that would kill them in order to win at their event. Alas, that has happened, with the case of a rider dying in a grueling tour de france ride after taking amphetamines to improve his performance. Some substances, like steroids can also provide benefit that persists even after the substance has left. Other substances, like EPO can be naturally produced by training at appropriate altitudes. East Germany had a mandatory doping program - and still owns many of the female records.
Athletes can use cameras to analyze minute differences in their activities. Large amounts of data can be crunched to optimize performance of individuals and teams. A pitcher can be told the best way to pitch a player. A basketball team can identify the best way to defend a certain player. Cameras can analyze minute details of a runner's stride.
Gear also plays a role. There is a huge industry that attempts to produce better equipment. However, the governing bodies of sports also have a say so, limiting the equipment (and benefiting and hurting certain participants.) Athletes end up training towards the certain goal.
The science behind athletic performance is also filled with interesting common substances that seem to provide benefit. Baking soda, caffeine and beet juice all help in various ways. Extra sleep has shown to be one of the most effective ways of improving performance. However, much depends on the individual person. The base level of fitness for an athlete and their train-ability help define their maximum success. Time in an individual sport often doesn't matter as much as finding the "right" sport. People with earlier growth sports may get an initial jolt in a sport, but the overall suitableness of their adult body form will be most important for long term success.
The subject of maximum performance. Lactic acid had been seen as a limitation. However, that may have been a side effect. The limit may be simply controlled by the brain. (This can help explain the boost that athletes can produce at the end of a race.) One theory states that this may be based on a body's desire to not kill itself. Somebody that has a stronger desire to "win" may be able to best succeed by using their brain to overpower the pain.
Faster, Higher, Stronger was written by a journalist that has an interest in the topic. As such it is a great read loaded with interesting discussion.