David Epstein: Are athletes really getting faster, better, stronger?
In his Ted talk, David Epstein takes a look what is going on behind the march to athletic progress. His question, whether athletes are really getting faster, better, and stronger is answered by explaining the following benefits that current athletes have over athletes of the past. These include changing technology, changing gene pool, and changing mindsets.
Let’s start with changing technology. Epstein tells us that technology has made a difference in all sports and changed the face of performance through the years. Comparing Jesse Owens, who won the 100 meter race in 1936 at 10.2 seconds to Usain Bolt’s win in 2013 at 9.77 seconds, Epstein explains that Owens was running on soft cinders while Bolt was running on synthetic turf, which has a propelling effect, thus enhancing speed. Interestingly, Owens 10.2 seconds is not that far behind Bolt’s 9.77 seconds, and if Owen’s was to have raced on that surface, would have been a lot closer to Bolt’s record.
Next, changing gene pool. Again, Epstein uses a great example to explain this phenomenon. He explains that specialized body types have taken the place of average body types (medium height, medium build) that used to be the typical athletic build. His example was this: High jumpers and shot putters used to have the same body type (medium height, medium build). Today the average shot putter is 2.5 inches taller and 130 pounds heavier that the average high jumper. In the same way, basketball players are now taller, swimmers now have a longer torso in comparison to leg length. Obviously this discovery, that body type enhances certain sports, has improved athletic performance through the years.
The last example is a changing mindset. As time has progressed, people have discovered the power of the human body and begun to push the limits of endurance. Imagination has expanded the understanding of what the human body is truly capable of. This is evidenced in extreme sports like depth-breadth diving and the Death Valley Run in California.
I think it’s reasonable to assume that technology has helped to improve athletic performance through the years. I never thought about the other two possibilities that Epstein proposes, changing gene pools and changing mindsets. They make total sense though, when I look at the 6’ 7”-foot average pro basketball players and observe the extreme sports people are attempting and achieving today. Another great Ted talk!!
Retrieved 12/10/2015 from: http://www.ted.com/talks/david_epstein_are_athletes_really_getting_faster_better_stronger#t-42491
In his Ted talk, David Epstein takes a look what is going on behind the march to athletic progress. His question, whether athletes are really getting faster, better, and stronger is answered by explaining the following benefits that current athletes have over athletes of the past. These include changing technology, changing gene pool, and changing mindsets.
Let’s start with changing technology. Epstein tells us that technology has made a difference in all sports and changed the face of performance through the years. Comparing Jesse Owens, who won the 100 meter race in 1936 at 10.2 seconds to Usain Bolt’s win in 2013 at 9.77 seconds, Epstein explains that Owens was running on soft cinders while Bolt was running on synthetic turf, which has a propelling effect, thus enhancing speed. Interestingly, Owens 10.2 seconds is not that far behind Bolt’s 9.77 seconds, and if Owen’s was to have raced on that surface, would have been a lot closer to Bolt’s record.
Next, changing gene pool. Again, Epstein uses a great example to explain this phenomenon. He explains that specialized body types have taken the place of average body types (medium height, medium build) that used to be the typical athletic build. His example was this: High jumpers and shot putters used to have the same body type (medium height, medium build). Today the average shot putter is 2.5 inches taller and 130 pounds heavier that the average high jumper. In the same way, basketball players are now taller, swimmers now have a longer torso in comparison to leg length. Obviously this discovery, that body type enhances certain sports, has improved athletic performance through the years.
The last example is a changing mindset. As time has progressed, people have discovered the power of the human body and begun to push the limits of endurance. Imagination has expanded the understanding of what the human body is truly capable of. This is evidenced in extreme sports like depth-breadth diving and the Death Valley Run in California.
I think it’s reasonable to assume that technology has helped to improve athletic performance through the years. I never thought about the other two possibilities that Epstein proposes, changing gene pools and changing mindsets. They make total sense though, when I look at the 6’ 7”-foot average pro basketball players and observe the extreme sports people are attempting and achieving today. Another great Ted talk!!
Retrieved 12/10/2015 from: http://www.ted.com/talks/david_epstein_are_athletes_really_getting_faster_better_stronger#t-42491