Is it written in our genes if we can be elite athletes?

“That night, when Jim Stampley asked me what I could have done to go faster, I told him: select my parents better. We all have certain genetic limitations that cannot be overcome through training…”

This devastating phrase was uttered by Jonathan Boyer, the first American cyclist to compete in a Tour de France, when asked by an ABC journalist in 1980.

Every time we see an athlete who stands out from the rest, we usually say that “he has talent”, or that “he has privileged genetics”, or that “he has qualities”. But do we really know in detail what makes him an elite athlete who stands out from his opponents?

Sports performance is written in DNA
Part of the answer lies in DNA, which contains the genetic instructions used in the development and function of all living organisms.

Genetic information is stored in the form of four chemical bases, the script that defines us: adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G) and cytosine (C), which are arranged in a specific sequence along the DNA chain. The sequence of these letters in the DNA molecule determines the genetic code, which contains instructions for the development and function of all the cells in the body and the skills that a human being can develop, including those related to sports.

Advances in DNA sequencing technology have made it possible to read and analyze this code from an individual. This allows researchers to understand the genetic basis of various diseases. But also, in recent years the association of genetics with performance has become very relevant in the world of sports medicine and physiology. Especially in elite sport.

There is evidence and research that suggests that genetics can influence sporting ability. Certain physical traits, such as muscle fiber type, muscle size, muscle metabolism, recovery capacity, and body composition, can be influenced by genes and affect athletic performance.

Sprinters have more fast-twitch muscle fibers
Clear examples are the modalities to which elite athletes are “predestined” by their genetics. For example, sprinters or power athletes usually have a higher percentage of fast-twitch muscle fibers, which allow them to generate explosive power and speed, hence their characteristics of extremely muscular bodies.

Endurance athletes, on the other hand, tend to have a higher percentage of slow-twitch muscle fibers, which allows them to maintain activity for longer periods of time.

In turn, some athletes may have genetic variations that allow their bodies to process and transport oxygen more efficiently to their muscles, a beneficial trait for endurance sports.

Genetics is one more piece
From the above, it is concluded that some athletes may have a genetic advantage that makes them more suitable for certain sports. However, genetics alone cannot determine whether a person will become an elite athlete, as there are many other factors that also play an important role in sporting success. Among them training, nutrition and psychological factors, which can define that status of elite athlete.

Genetics is nothing more than a “piece” that was missing in the puzzle of understanding sports performance and that in a few years has given us enough knowledge to be able to prevent sports injuries in elite athletes and even create genetic profiles for detection. of sporting talent by genetic selection.

These are the first “stones” in building knowledge that will make us know elite athletes better. It could even help us identify athletes who are touched by that innate “magic wand”, and who must know how to direct and orchestrate so that they reach their maximum potential.

But without forgetting that genetic predisposition is one thing and reality is another. It is estimated that genetics has a 10-25% influence on whether someone becomes an elite athlete. Training, dedication and a favorable environment are factors that do the rest, and are essential to achieve sporting success.

Therefore, arguing that genetics “does not support” cannot serve as an excuse for not trying and achieving resounding success in sport.

Read the article on the original website, clicking on the button below this text.

Source: The Conversation. Authorship:

David Varillas
Professor of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (CAFyD) and Coordinator of the Stable Research Group "Elite and High Performance Athletes", Francisco de Vitoria University