Precision in Motion

How Alain Zobrist and Omega Time the Olympics

- Sharan Sanil

We catch up with the Swiss Timing CEO to explore the cutting-edge technology behind capturing the stunning photo finishes at Paris 2024

As the Paris 2024 Olympics came to a close, the world witnessed some of the most thrilling finishes in recent history, with races often decided by mere thousandths of a second. A standout moment was the men's 100m final, where USA's Noah Lyles secured victory by just 0.005 seconds, narrowly beating Jamaica's Kishane Thompson. The crowd at Stade de France held its breath as they awaited the official result, which confirmed Lyles' win in a dramatic photo finish (pictured left).

Omega's advanced Scan'O'Vision ULTIMATE camera played a crucial role in determining the outcome. Capable of capturing up to 40,000 frames per second, the camera provided a detailed line-scan image that showed the exact moment each athlete's torso crossed the finish line. This cutting-edge technology ensured that the race was judged with absolute precision, highlighting the importance of accurate timing in determining Olympic champions.

All of this is a responsibility that falls on the shoulders of Alain Zobrist and his team at Swiss Timing for Omega. Zobrist has been in the time game for a while; born and raised in Switzerland, with a solid background in economics and marketing, he spent over 15 years climbing the ranks at Omega before stepping into his current role in late 2014. His journey included a stint as Head of Global Sports Marketing, where he honed his skills and developed a deep understanding of what it takes to deliver precision on the world's biggest stage.