Translated from Journal Nacional 

To celebrate Globo’s anniversary, reporter Guilherme Roseguini posed a challenge: to look into the past and try to imagine what athletes of the future will be like, 60 years from now.

Time hasn’t taken away his agility—nor his memory. That’s why, at 76 years old, Servílio de Oliveira is the perfect guide for a trip through history. He won Brazil’s first Olympic medal in boxing—a bronze, back in 1968—and is living proof of how technological advancements have transformed sports.

Just look at the evolution of boxing gloves. Servílio used to fight with gloves stuffed with horsehair, a material that offered very little protection to athletes. With horsehair gloves, you could feel your hand more on your opponent. They were drier, and the grip was much firmer,” says Servílio Oliveira.

Over the years, boxing has transformed. Abner Teixeira, a member of Brazil’s national team and also an Olympic bronze medalist from 2021, was shocked when he tried out old-school gear.

“I had only heard of horsehair gloves—never actually held one. I picked it up, and you could feel your fingers through it. I always heard stories that where it hit, hair wouldn’t grow back. Might as well fight barehanded,” says Abner Teixeira, bronze medalist in boxing, 2021.

No surprise there. Today's gloves are made with multiple layers of synthetic foam. They actually protect athletes and contribute to safer sports.

In many disciplines, innovation has reshaped the sports landscape. And over the next 60 years, we’ll likely get used to seeing tech in unexpected places—even in socks. In the U.S., scientist Irmandy Wicaksono has developed a smart fabric. Motion and pressure microsensors are embedded into socks, allowing for measurements like impact, the strength of a kick, and which areas of the foot are used when striking the ball. Irmandy says that, in the future, real-time interventions could happen, with socks and cleats vibrating and giving players feedback on how they’re kicking.

Training will also take on a new meaning thanks to innovations like digital twins. The idea is to recreate athletes’ bones, muscles, and organs with precision in a computer, using imaging scans and performance tests. This virtual twin would act as a guinea pig.

Here’s how it would work: imagine an athlete with a digital twin that mirrors their exact anatomy and bodily functions. Before heading out to train, a runner could simulate the workout on their twin. For instance, let’s test a 10 km track run. Then we could assess: Can the heart handle the effort? Have the muscles recovered from yesterday’s session? Can the worn knee cartilage withstand the impact? If the digital athlete finishes tired but fine, the real athlete can head out with confidence.

American scientist Bill Quinn, from the "Athletes of the Future" project, says this virtual twin will help athletes make better decisions about health, exercise, diet, and sleep.

Injury treatment will also change. In the future, athletes will have access to custom-made structures via 3D printing for injuries—ligaments, cartilage, and prosthetics—with the potential to reduce recovery times and extend careers.

“I wish I could experience that moment too. But I think it will be great for the future—it’s really fascinating,” says Rebeca Andrade.

The queen of Brazilian artistic gymnastics, Rebeca Andrade, who has six Olympic medals, underwent three surgeries on her right knee due to severe ligament injuries.

“I truly hope it happens. Medicine is always evolving, always bringing and showing new things. Today, I believe the current generation already has better preparation than ours. That’s what it’s all about—evolution. We can evolve in every aspect,” says Rebeca Andrade.