The video visually showcases the disparity between the energy we consume and the amount of energy we can generate.
Track Cycling is one of the most demanding sports. To compete effectively, an athlete must possess both excellent fitness and remarkable endurance; they need the muscular physique of a bodybuilder while also having the stamina of a track athlete.
Robert Förstemann is a living testament to this assertion. The German athlete made a significant impression when his “huge” thighs went viral on the internet during the 2012 Olympics.
Robert Förstemann’s massive thighs – (Photo: Internet).
This is why Förstemann was chosen to participate in the Toaster Challenge. This project, created by a group of students at the Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts, provides an opportunity for a professional athlete to use their strength to operate a toaster, demonstrating how much human effort is required for a simple task like toasting bread.
It turns out, this task is simple because we have electric machines.
Can an athlete’s strength be enough to operate a toaster? – (Video: The Toaster Challenge).
The short clip immediately illustrates the gap between the energy we consume and the energy we can produce, or rather, the amount of energy a professional athlete can generate.
According to estimates from the team behind this challenge, it would take 180 Robert Förstemanns to power a car for one hour. To operate a Boeing 737-800 for one hour, we would need 43,000 Förstemanns.
The lesson about energy has been relatively well understood, so let’s flip the question: how many slices of bread would it take for Förstemann to feel full?
