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What is the best body type for gymnastics? Why is being small an advantage? In a sport where athletes are often airborne and rotating, the laws of physics make being small in stature an advantage. Gymnasts also tend to have narrow hips, which is why gymnasts tend to be much younger than other Olympic athletes. Keep reading to learn about the science behind the gymnastics body type.
Why are sports divided by gender? How is sex defined in sports? Sports divide men’s and women’s events into two distinct categories for good reason, yet on the level of the individual athlete, the distinction between the sexes is not so easy to define. In sports, the biological distinction between male and female is not black and white. Let’s explore the issue of gender in sports to help shed light on the matter.
What’s the best body type for swimming? Why do elite swimmers tend to have the same physical characteristics? Although swimmers with varying body types have found success in the sport, most swimmers who compete at the international level have the same body type. They tend to be tall, have long torsos, and have rather short legs. Keep reading to learn about the science behind the swimming body type.
What body type is the best suited for running? Does body type have a significant effect on running ability? There’s no single runner body type. Different leg lengths, leg proportions, and height have such an impact on performance that runners’ measurements often differ by event. Let’s look at a few examples.
Were humans meant to exercise? Where does the human desire to exercise stem from? It’s no secret that exercise is integral to maintaining optimal physical health and mental well-being. But staying fit and healthy is not the only reason humans practice exercise. Science says humans’ motivation to exercise is encoded in our genes. Here’s what research has to say about the genetic aspect of exercise and motivation.
What’s the average height of a basketball player? Apart from height, what are the other key characteristics of a professional basketball player’s body type? Basketball players in the NBA are generally much taller than the average man. Only 5% of men in the US are taller than 6 feet 3 inches. The average height of an NBA player is 6 feet 7 inches. In addition to height, basketball players tend to have longer arms, far outside the norm for the general population. Let’s take a look at the key characteristics of a professional basketball player’s body type.
Why are athletes less sensitive to pain? Does playing sports decrease pain sensitivity? Or is it a matter of genetics? Pain is inevitable in most sports, and managing pain is an important part of being an elite athlete. While some athletes may have a genetic advantage when processing pain, intense athletic competition can make anyone less sensitive to pain. Keep reading to learn about the genetics of pain and why athletes tend to be tougher than an average person when it comes to handling pain.
What is the function of the ACTN3 gene? Is it true that your ACTN3 genotype determines your running ability? ACTN3 hosts the code for making the protein called Alpha-actinin-3. The “R variant” of the gene results in normal production of the protein, but the “X” variant prevents the protein from being synthesized. While scientists do not know how this happens, there’s a strong correlation between the R genotype and sprinting speed. Tests on athletes from around the world have revealed that the XX genotype is almost nowhere to be found in elite sprinters. Keep reading to learn why the ACTN3
What is the function of the gene Apolipoprotein E (APOE)? How many APOE variants are there? The Apolipoprotein E gene influences inflammation in the brain following head trauma. The Apolipoprotein E gene has three variants: APOE 2, APOE 3, and APOE 4. A person’s variant of the gene can influence how they recover from a brain injury. Keep reading to learn about the function of Apolipoprotein E and how it relates to sports.
Why are Kenyans so good at distance running? Is Kenyan running dominance a matter of superior genetics? The statistics on Kenyan running dominance are impressive, and they certainly suggest a naturally superior running ability in Kenyan marathoners. However, Kenyans are not the only runners with body types ideally suited for distance running. According to David Epstein, the author of The Sports Gene, motivation—not just genetics—is a key component of Kenyan runners’ excellence. Here is what makes Kenyans exceptional in the sport.