Are some people built to excel? This is an intriguing thought and it does have some prescience. The general theory is that different body structures lend themselves to do certain sports better. A historical example of this is during the construction of the Brooklyn bridge.
The physician on site screened potential workers to see they were suitable build to work in the caissons [1]. The job they were being called to do was the foundation works for the famous towers. They did this by working in pressurized caisson [2] . Working under these air pressures can cause “the bends”[3]. During construction the prevention of this by use of decompression stop[4] wasn't used, but they did work out that “thin” skinny people were less likely to be affected[5]. Thereby these people were hired and were indirectly built to excel.
This theory has been applied to sport. An indication to this is with basketball where players are generally very tall. The average height of a basketball player is 6ft 7[6].
So you could argue that by being tall in this sport you are “built to excel”, ok there are some exceptions like Christ Paul who is 6ft. But with the average height of men being 5ft 7 he is still above average compared to us mere mortals. Talent scouts would identify up and coming players based on height as well as ability.
This inclination that some people are built to excel in certain sports was historically put into practice with an example being with the Russian academy system.
The Russians had installed a regious identification training regime with the basis of people’s stature and structure. This led to the theory that to be good at gymnastics you needed to be small and supple[7]. The physical training that these girls have been put through has been shown to slowed body development [8]. Take Yelena Mukhina athlete in 1978 this lady is 18 years old.
1980 Russian Olympic Squad
2012 British Gymnastics Squad
This is interesting as the increase in knowledge is starting to change the given ideals, opening up the possibility for people who historically would not be considered.
So the idea that people are built to excel is there. Yet there is another thought pattern. Is it possible to train people to succeed?
