Despite the energy crunch the whole world faces today, the share of effort everyone puts in sorting it out is quite heartening. It holds good for sportspeople too. That’s no fantasizing since a variety of human-powered gadgets are up on the market. Anyhow, if we broaden the spectrum and think of mass-producing electricity via sports-power, it might surprise you a bit. Still it’s feasible and practical; no daydreaming, mind you!
Be it aerobics, outdoors, extreme sports, kayaking, canoeing, boxing, cycling or sprinting, the muscle power could be translated into kinetic energy. Just think of a boxer punching a boxing bag, having kinetic energy converters in it, and generating electricity. Energy thus produced can be stored in batteries for future use. Cyclists can generate an ample amount of thrust to propel certain dynamos. Moreover, in canoeing or kayaking, the team members could produce sufficient charge while dispersing water through pedaling or rowing. If sprinters’ shoes are fixed in with micro-power-generators, the heel-strike generation system can produce enormous power for gadgets.
Well, if you are still thinking it is a fantastic projection of human imagination, here are some excerpts to remove all your doubts:
1) nPower PEG (Personal Energy Generator): 
The nPower PEG (Personal Energy Generator) harvests the kinetic energy from walking and turns it into electricity. Charges most devices up to 80% with just one hour’s worth of walking. Affixing it to athletes’ kit can produce electricity.
2) POWERleap:
How about transforming race tracks with this flooring system that could help athletes generate sufficient power to illuminate the entire race course.
3) Green Microgym
The Human Dynamo prototype has an exercise machine attached to a small generator. Four riders propelling the prototype system can produce 200 watts to 600 watts of energy an hour. Nice workout for green-minded sportspeople, isn’t it?
4) Pioneer:
Pioneer converts the kinetic energy of walking into electrical energy. The energy thus generated is stored in a battery in the sole of the shoe. It’s efficient enough to power a headlight for 12 hours once properly charged. A whole team could produce sufficient power to set a cabin ablaze. Just kidding!
5) Powering a supercomputer:
If you’re not still convinced, have a look at what these MIT students are doing here. Powering a supercomputer via paddling a bike! Members of the MIT Cycling Team actually attempted to win the Innovate or Die contest offered by Google and Specialized Bicycle Components. They attempted to register a record for human-powered biking and computing. In the image below they’re relaxing after putting in their best of efforts. You can see a big gray box on the left, which is the SiCortex supercomputer.
