As athletes vie for gold at the Winter Olympics, every little competitive edge makes a difference. Even their clothing needs to be at peak performance.

"What is the athlete doing? What mobility do they need in the garment," Brooke Anderson said.

Other WRAL Top Stories

Anderson is a textile engineer who asked those questions during her time working for Nike during the 2024 Paris games. She worked on the materials used for skateboarding and breakdance.

"Those two sports being in the summer, we had to consider breathability, making sure the athletes stay cool and perform to their highest level," Anderson said.

She said peak performance in the winter isn't just about staying warm.

"You have to consider, how do I move the sweat off their body? Because the second your clothes get wet then you get cold," Anderson said.

Emiel DenHartog is the head of the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science in Wilson College of Textiles and NC State University, where Anderson got her degree.

The university partners with companies like Under Armour to develop new technology. One of the tools inside the college's labs is a sweating mannequin that can simulate an athlete's body heating up.

"You need to know about materials, about construction, about the human and the environment. All these factors come together into something that needs to perform well for the Olympics," DenHartog said.

On the icy surfaces at the Winter Games, some sports couldn't look more different. But look closely and you'll see similarities. DenHartog used speed skating and downhill skiing as an example.

"Because of the high speeds, aerodynamic drag and resistance is one of the most important factors for them, so really having a smooth surface that is highly engineered makes all the difference for them. Where if you look at other sports where the aesthetics or the movements are much more important than the speed itself, you'll start to see very different types of clothing," DenHartog said.

Next time you see an athlete on the podium, you might notice more than the medal they're wearing.