Can genetics explain the success of East African distance runners?

[BusinessTech]

Can genetics explain the success of East African distance runners?

More than 10,000 athletes from 206 different nations will compete for glory in this year’s Olympic Games in Rio. But when it comes to distance running it’s likely that, as in previous years, the finals will be dominated by athletes from East African countries or those of East African heritage.

 

[MickeyD]

@genetics .... We eagerly await your response.

 

[Arthur]

As with any human achievement, nature and nurture work together. In what proportion exactly we don't know.

One thing's for sure: their training and determination is phenomenal. Both those fall in the nurture side, and that's what we salute.

 

[azbob]

Can it explain Jamaican sprinters?

 

[phoneJunky]

I think altitude is probably the biggest role. Since moving to Gauteng, my jogs on the coast feels so easy. I can also run much farther much more conveniently at the coast. And they are much higher up.

Also on a side note articles like this are the same as "why are Afrikaners better at rugby in SA" (as the article put the genetics angle in there) and I can't see that going down well.

 

[genetic]

Can genetics explain the success of East African distance runners?

@genetics .... We eagerly await your response.

Good question. I can indeed.

The relatively low BMI of East African runners is key. They are built light and lean. East African runners carry a few less grams on their lower legs - feet and ankles, requiring less energy to move when compared to their Western counterparts.

Also, many African children trek long distances to get to school from an incredibly young age, conditioning their bodies for training later on in life.

Hope this helps.

Oh, and the name is genetic.

 

[phoneJunky]

Can it explain Jamaican sprinters?

Same as the American Sprinters/Basketballers/Footballers - biggest strongest "exports" from West Africa a few centuries ago.

 

[phoneJunky]

Good question. I can indeed.

The relatively low BMI of East African runners is key. They are built light and lean. East African runners carry a few less grams on their lower legs - feet and ankles, requiring less energy to move when compared to their Western counterparts.

Also, many African children trek long distances to get to school from an incredibly young age, conditioning their bodies for training later on in life.

Hope this helps.

Oh, and the name is genetic.

The Nguni tribes of South Africa are also of East African descent but don't fare nearly as well in distance running. Sure we get a comrades winner every so often years but there are much more South Africans taking part - Okay I only saw South Africans Zimbaweans and Russians on the list. But at the Olympic stage I can't think of anyone that comes to mind from SA since I started watching in the 1990's