What influence do genes have on athletic performance? Two experts explain why hard training isn’t enough – and why amateur athletes shouldn’t worry too much about the right genetic makeup.
They are experiences that are burned into your memory: While one classmate in sports class seems to effortlessly complete the 5,000-meter run, you can only hope that you don’t have to give up because of exhaustion after just one lap on the tartan track. That’s just how it is, people thought back then, some people are simply much more athletic – even without training. But how can these differences be explained? Is it possible that genetic predisposition determines sporting success?