Tall Athletes Flaws

Jose Altuve, the 5’6” second basemen from the Houston Astros, recently won the American League MVP award, beating the Yankees’ 6’7” giant Aaron Judge in the process. In this battle of David and Goliath, David won. Yet there is still a problem in the sports world. There is still belief that size matters, and that short people cannot compete with taller competitors. Simply put, this is not the case. If Jose Altuve, who is over a foot shorter than Aaron Judge, is considered to be a better player, why do we still have these false assumptions?

There are many aspects to the root of the problem. The tallest athletes always stand out, because they are much larger. This causes people to focus on them, which leaves shorter athletes out of the spotlight. Additionally, short athletes don't have the brawn that a taller one has. Taller athletes also have many advantages, such as longer legs and arms, and more strength. Tall athletes aren't as great in some aspects as compared to shorter ones. Short athletes have quicker reaction times.

When someone assumes that a shorter person cannot compete with a taller one, it causes damage that can trouble someone for life. Short athletes are frequently told to find another sport to play, or that they won't be able to compete with normal sized athletes. This can cause insecurity to the athlete. Also, these assumptions impact youth athletes who are vertically challenged. If they grow up in a world where taller athletes are preferred, they won't think they are good enough. They could give up on their sport at a young age because they are so demotivated. Like I mentioned earlier, professional scouts also believe that taller athletes are better. This leads to taller players being drafted over shorter ones. Some athletes need the money to support their family. If they are being overlooked, they will come up short for their family. This assumption affects not only the athlete, but even their