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.
I agree it is not the sole contributor, but my original point is that is is more of a contributor in certain ball sports.
By the way, where have you been?
The NBA drafts the "gifted" out of HS and the NFL would do it if permitted. They scout and draft prior to the abundance of practice you say is necessary.
For the rest of us, yes we can get there with determination. Pete Rose would be a good example. I just think it is alot more difficult to, for instance, "learn" how to pitch when someone already does. (i.e. Brian Taylor....signed by the NY Yankess at the age of 17. Clocked at 0ver 95 mph....right, 95 mph at 17 YEARS OLD!) Most major league pitchers, regardless of age, can't throw that hard.
My original point is I think running and swimming is based more on mental determination than "ball" sports. I think that the heart, lungs and energy systems can be developed to an elite level in most of us if we have the mental fortitude to train hard enough.
Am I that messed up here in my thinking?
I agree it is not the sole contributor, but my original point is that is is more of a contributor in certain ball sports.
By the way, where have you been?
The NBA drafts the "gifted" out of HS and the NFL would do it if permitted. They scout and draft prior to the abundance of practice you say is necessary.
For the rest of us, yes we can get there with determination. Pete Rose would be a good example. I just think it is alot more difficult to, for instance, "learn" how to pitch when someone already does. (i.e. Brian Taylor....signed by the NY Yankess at the age of 17. Clocked at 0ver 95 mph....right, 95 mph at 17 YEARS OLD!) Most major league pitchers, regardless of age, can't throw that hard.
My original point is I think running and swimming is based more on mental determination than "ball" sports. I think that the heart, lungs and energy systems can be developed to an elite level in most of us if we have the mental fortitude to train hard enough.
Am I that messed up here in my thinking?
