To play a sport is to have fun, whether recreationally or professionally. But competition can also drive us to take risks, sometimes with catastrophic consequences. Meet Rick Greenwald, one guy who is out to make sports safer for all.

Have you ever seen the aerialists at the Winter Olympics? Those skiers who launch themselves off massive jumps flipping and twisting enough to make the viewer get a little dizzy? Well, Rick Greenwald saw these athletes too, and wanted to know what happens when a landing comes in hard, or worse. Rather than assume what was happening, Rick - a PhD scientist in Bioengineering and founder of the company Simbex - started to collect and analyze the data. And use that data to gain insight to what protective gear any athlete might need to compete in their chosen sport. Rick still plays, and coaches in his favorite sport (soccer), so his work is really his passion. Today on The Sydcast we talk to Rick Greenwald about sports, injuries in sports, and how to prevent those injuries without taking away the love of the game.