Publication details
Human biodiversity and the global distribution of sports talent
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2011 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Studia sportiva |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Sport and leisure time activities |
| Keywords | race and sports performance; sports anthropometry; human physical evolution and adaptation |
| Description | To our knowledge, this study constitutes the most detailed attempt to cover the extent of human physical variation in the global context. The comparison of national/ethnic Olympic samples with the averages of elite competitors in Olympic sports can also illuminate the mutual relationship of genetic and social factors in sports excellence of certain nations, with sometimes very unexpected results that have fundamental implications for the public perception of widespread racial stereotypes. Furthermore, the results of our study can be used for the purpose of rational sports programs targeting specific sports that are most suitable for the body type of the respective population. Our graphic comparisons show that averages of national/ethnic Olympic samples cluster in a characteristic regional manner and remarkably agree with available anthropometric data. They also reveal a surprisingly high degree of physical differences even within relatively small geographical regions (e.g. Europe or the Near East), which suggests that the speed of human adaptations to local climatic conditions far exceeds the intensity of gene exchange with neighbouring populations. |