The ongoing trend of athletes breaking world records can be partly explained by an increased global participation in sports. This wider demographic of athletes, now drawn from various countries, enhances the likelihood of identifying individuals with exceptional talent.
Advancements in nutrition, training methodologies, and sports equipment are also significant contributors. These improvements, when compared to two decades ago, show a notable difference in supporting athlete performance.
The professionalisation of sports further enables athletes to dedicate their routines entirely to improving their performance. This allows them to focus on their sport without the need to earn a living through other means or manage additional distractions.
While "marginal gains" from sports science and technology continue to push boundaries, some records are broken by small increments. For example, pole vaulters like Armand Duplantis have reportedly broken their own world records by just one centimetre at a time.