Is there a genetically determined limit to athletic performance?
Former Member
In his autobiographical book The Naturalist, E. O. Wilson suggests that there is a genetically determined limit to an individual's athletic performance which cannot be overcome regardless of the amount of training. Using himself as an example, he describes how he became a serious runner several years after graduating college. The gap between his times and those of the top runners in his age group (expressed as a percentage) remained what it was in college.
I looked at my current times (three years after joining USMS) and found that I am 12% behind in the 1000 and 15% behind in the 500. These percentages are exactly the same as they were in 1978, the last year I swam in college. I know there are exceptions within the ranks of USMS, but I wonder how valid this "rule" really is.
Parents
Former Member
I'm not sure I agree with rtodd that genetics plays a big role in specific skills such as throwing a football or hitting a baseball. I think specific skills are the least likely to be impacted by genetics because they require technique and benefit the most from practice.
I think genetics has a bigger role in establishing the upper limits of strength, speed, and endurance. We know height is a genetic issue. Most elite swimmers are tall. Ultimate cardiovascular ability is genetically influenced. Lance Armstrong has extraordinary VO2 max capability. And of course he has used it to best advantage through incredible motivation and training.
We've all known people who added speed easily with less training than us. Others can smoke and eat bad food but still have low cholesterol.
I wish I were one of those genetically advantaged people!
I'm not sure I agree with rtodd that genetics plays a big role in specific skills such as throwing a football or hitting a baseball. I think specific skills are the least likely to be impacted by genetics because they require technique and benefit the most from practice.
I think genetics has a bigger role in establishing the upper limits of strength, speed, and endurance. We know height is a genetic issue. Most elite swimmers are tall. Ultimate cardiovascular ability is genetically influenced. Lance Armstrong has extraordinary VO2 max capability. And of course he has used it to best advantage through incredible motivation and training.
We've all known people who added speed easily with less training than us. Others can smoke and eat bad food but still have low cholesterol.
I wish I were one of those genetically advantaged people!
