The Sports Gene

Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance 

Author: David Epstein
Publisher: Current Hardcover (Aug. 1 2013)

In high school, I wondered whether the Jamaican Americans who made our track team so successful might carry some special speed gene from their tiny island. In college, I ran against Kenyans, and wondered whether endurance genes might have traveled with them from East Africa. At the same time, I began to notice that a training group on my team could consist of five men who run next to one another, stride for stride, day after day, and nonetheless turn out five entirely different runners. How could this be?

We all knew a star athlete in high school. The one who made it look so easy. He was the starting quarterback and shortstop; she was the all-state point guard and high-jumper. Naturals. Or were they?

Tags: 
Sport Governance and Leadership
athlete development high performance
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Comments

Trent Stellingw... replied on

David Epstein is a former collegiate middle-distance runner who now writes for Sports Illustrated.  Anyways, he has travelled the world, and looked at the intimate interaction between nature and nurture - genes and environment.  This book gives a good overview of the current scientific state of the area behind the role that genes play in sports performance, but also extends out in a balanced manner to demonstrate the VERY important aspect of environment on performance outcomes.  You cannot have nature or nurture alone - they are intertwined and connected.  The book also does a great job presenting real life examples.

Joseph Baker, P... replied on

In March, we used The Sports Gene by David Epstein as the basis for a discussion in my graduate class on the “Psychology of Skilled Performance” at York University. Our main focus was on this book’s contribution to discussions amongst the general public and the scientific community about the roles of nature and nurture in developing elite athletes.

Anchoring the evidence to stories of the researchers and athletes involved was a great way to expose readers to the complex issues in this exciting field of science.

Richard Way, Ca... replied on

Great story telling... “Informative story telling on where athletes come from - nature or nurture? It helps athletes understand if they need to choose their parents well or the find a great coach.”

Joshua Karanja replied on

(Winner 2013 Ottawa Half Marathon, Guide Runner for Paralympian Jason Dunkerley)

Being a good athlete is not about nature vs. nurture but a product of both. It is hardware ( nature) plus software (nurture) that creates an elite athlete. He also does distinguish the importance of the environment and training.

“If only accumulated hours of practice matter, then why do we separate men and women in athletic competition?”