Black Sports Supremacy Summary

Professional athletes are idolized by many because of their superior physical attributes, and their performances in their respective arena. To this day, many believe professional athletes were born with superior genes, and many would argue one’s genes predetermines the likelihood of an individual becoming a professional athlete. While genetics does play a role in one’s potential of becoming an elite athlete, research suggests nutrition, biomechanics, and mastering a sport specific technique are all major contributors to the development of a professional athlete. The contribution of one’s genetics should not be overlooked, however, to say people are born to be elite athletes is a fallacy.

Elite athletes reach superhuman levels, and perform

unimagenable tasks regularly, therefore it is only natural for people to turn to genetics in order to justify how certain athletes manage to reach an elite level of athleticism. However, genetics is only one factor that contributes to the development of an elite athlete. There are many stereotypes about certain races being superior in certain sports, however, to assume people are going to be naturally good at sports is to abide by ignorance.

The journal article The Myth of Black Sports Supremacy written by Gary A. Sailes addresses the stereotypes, and furthermore discusses how said stereotypes are not true. For example, Sailes acknowledges that there are anatomical differences that could possibly provide African-Americans some advantages, however, Sailes explains how these advantages are insignificant unless they are fully developed through vigorous training and by participating in a nurturing and competitive environment that creates an opportunity for success (Sailes 485). In short, Sailes argues the competitive field is leveled, and athletic success yields to those who work for it. The Essay The Makings of the Perfect Athlete written by Yannis P. Pitsiladis discusses the physical build of athletes, particularly those of west/east Africa. Pitsiladis discusses why athletes from Western African perform well in short distance races, and why athletes from Eastern

African perform well in long distance events. Pitsiladis acknowledges that the natural physical build of athletes from those regions does help, however, Pitsiladis attributes their success to the environment these elite athletes are raised in. Even with perfect genetic make-up, the environment has to be right for genetic endowment to prevail. Thus, the unique environmental conditions in East Africa might be optimum for the development of endurance performance (Pitsiladis 517). Both articles acknowledged the role that genetics plays in the potential development of an athlete, however, the writers concluded that no one is born to become an elite athlete. Becoming an elite athlete requires hard work.

Proper nutrition is essential for any aspiring professional athlete.

Becoming a professional athlete requires a lot of training that oftentimes results in becoming fatigued. The article Sports Nutrition for Young Athletes written by Purcell, Laura K, discusses the importance of proper nutrition for aspiring athletes. Sports nutrition enhances athletic performances by decreasing fatigue and the risk of injury; it also enables athletes to optimize training and recover faster ( Purcell par.2). Purcell also explains the roles that macronutrients (proteins, fats, and carbohydrates), and micronutrients (water, vitamins, and minerals) play, and explains why each are important for young athletes. Lastly, Purcell explains, An ideal diet comprises of 45 to 65% carbohydrates, 10% to 30% protein, and 25% to 35% fat ( Purcell par.18). The article Free-Sugar, Total-Sugar, Fibre, and Micronutrient Intake Within Elite Youth British Soccer Players: A Nutritional Transition From Schoolboy to Fulltime Soccer Player by Robert J. Naughton, Barry Drust, Andy O’Boyle, Julie Abayomi, Elizabeth Mahon, James P. Morton, and Ian G. Davies monitored the caloric intake from several players from different age groups within the youth academies of Premier League clubs, and compared the intakes of the several age groups. The purpose of the study was to compare the FS (free-sugar), dietary fiber, and micronutrient intake amongst 3 separate age groups in order to determine whether or not the young

athletes were eating properly. Soccer players, in particular, require a large intake of carbohydrates because carbohydrates are the primary source of energy, however, micronutrients also play a key role in athletics; although they do not provide calories to the body. The article explains how it is important for young athletes to consume micronutrients, particularly calcium and iron; Calcium and Iron intakes, in particular, have been identified as important for adolescent athletes...because of their important role in skeletal development and oxygen transportation (518). The article, however, does not discuss the importance of protein consumption. Protein is also an important component of an athlete’s diet. The article Protein and the Athlete- How Much Do You need? By Alexandra Caspero explains how protein allows athletes to develop muscle more efficiently. Protein plays an important role in an athlete’s diet as it helps repair and strengthen tissue ( Caspero par. 1). Caspero also advises to consume a high protein meal within 2 hours after an intense workout in order for protein to best assist muscle repairation. The articles above demonstrate how big of a role nutrition plays into the development of an athlete, and it is a factor that should not be disregarded when one asks how it is athletes are able to perform at an elite level.

Biomechanics and the mastering of sport specific technique go hand in hand as both focus on the movement of the athletes. The article How Can Sport Biomechanics Contribute to the Advance of World Record and Best Athletic Performance? written by Li Li portrays biomechanics as a field of study that focuses on the results of muscle force application on human movement during sports. The ultimate goal of sport biomechanics study is to improve performance and prevent injury (Li 194). In the article, Li discusses the importance of the study of biomechanics, and technique in athletics. Li attributes many of the recent records in track and field to the inclusion of biomechanics, and the mastering of techniques. An athlete’s technique is just as important as their physical attributes, however, it is oftentimes overlooked. Many sports look ‘easy’, however, what is not known is that athletes spend hours training in order to master their technique in order to produce great results, and their mastery of their technique makes their respective sport look ‘easy’. The article Flopping, Klapping and Gene Doping: Dichotomies between 'Natural' and 'Artificial' in Elite Sport written by Ivo van Hilvoorde, Rein Vos and Guido de Wert further emphasises the importance of mastering technique. The article brings up the “Fosbury Flop”, and demonstrates how the mastering of one’s technique allows an athlete to produce better results. One of the most spectacular and revolutionary changes in high jumping was the Fosbury Flop named after Dick Fosbury…. Fosbury’s gold winning flop during the Olympics in Mexico City in 1968 became a part of collective sport memory (van Hilvoorde, Vos, and de Wert 178) Fosbury radically changed the technique of high jumping, and the Fosbury Flop looked unnatural, it produced results. Blount describes his body as almost a new instrument, unconventional but efficient (Ivo van Hilvoorde, Rein Vos and Guido de Wert

178). The article demonstrates how biomechanics innovates sports, and it also encourages athletes to keep breaking records with each and every new technical discovery.

There are many fallacies within the athletic community. The fallacies discourage many athletes who choose to believe that only a select few athletes are born with advantageous genotypes, however, the works of Pitsiladis and Sailes acknowledge that there is genetical differences between people, but it does not predetermine one’s athletic success. Nutrition is the fuel that allows athletes to work hard during training. Purcell’s article provided insight into the workings of both macronutrients and micronutrients, and described the perfect diet. The research conducted by Robert J. Naughton, Barry Drust, Andy O’Boyle, Julie Abayomi, Elizabeth Mahon, James P. Morton, and Ian G. Davies on young athletes in the youth categories of the premier league clubs explains the importance of consuming carbohydrates and micronutrients. Certain sports require a unique diet that allows one to work efficiently, and the group’s research further emphasized the importance of abiding to a strict diet as an aspiring athlete. Elite athlete work hard on their physical attributes, and also work hard on mastering sport specific technique. Li Li’s article demonstrates how important biomechanics is to sport while Ivo van Hilvoorde, Rein Vos, and Guido de Wert’s work provides an example of how biomechanics pushes the athletic limits.