Dolphins have a powerful kick

Think Olympic golden boy Michael Phelps has the most powerful kick in the water?
Well, he's a guppy when compared to dolphins.

Researchers have determined that dolphins use 212 pounds of thrust to propel themselves at more than 20 miles an hour. That's more than triple the thrust that a top Olympic swimmer like Phelps can produce.

Researchers at West Chester University in Pennsylvania and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy used sophisticated underwater video to measure the power of a dolphin's tail.

RPI engineering professor Tim Wei (way) used the same technique to help U.S. Olympic swimmers get the most from their stroke.

Wei is presenting the findings today in San Antonio at an American Physical Society conference.

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