The recent Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang was a marvel of human endeavour. Years of hurt, training and willpower culminating in all-too-brief moments of blood, sweat and tears. From the early morning anticipation as the curlers exchanged ends, stones and'the hammer', to sense-defying spins over the half-pipe, what was on display was nothing short of miraculous. If an exploratory alien species had happened to pass over South Korea to witness the Czech Ester Ledecká taking unprecedented golds in both the super-G ski and snowboard giant slalom events, we would no doubt have gone up several points in their estimation – and likely made them reassess their pending invasion plans. Ledecká's was not the only world-first at this year's Games.

Robots of all shapes and sizes took turns skiing, with varying degrees of success, down a course near Pyeongchang in what is believed to be the first robot skiing competition in the world. All entrants were required to measure more than 50cm in height, stand on'two legs', have joints resembling elbow and knees, an independent power system and use ski plates and poles.