* How can sprinter Usain Bolt break his world record without running any faster?

* Why do high-jumpers use the Fosbury Flop?

* What's the best strategy for taking penalties in football?

* What statistical advantage do left-handed boxers have over their right-handed opponents?

* And did you know that gymnasts can experience stronger g-forces than roller-coaster designers are allowed to create?

John D. Barrow shows how maths can give us surprising and enlivening insights into the world of sports - essential reading for competitors, armchair enthusiasts and maths-lovers alike.