GRASGRUBER, Pavel and Jan CACEK. Human biodiversity and the global distribution of sports talent. Studia sportiva. Brno: Masarykova Univerzita, 2011, vol. 5, No 3, p. 77 - 86. ISSN 1802-7679.
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Basic information
Original name Human biodiversity and the global distribution of sports talent
Authors GRASGRUBER, Pavel (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and Jan CACEK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution).
Edition Studia sportiva, Brno, Masarykova Univerzita, 2011, 1802-7679.
Other information
Original language English
Type of outcome Article in a journal
Field of Study Sport and leisure time activities
Country of publisher Czech Republic
Confidentiality degree is not subject to a state or trade secret
RIV identification code RIV/00216224:14510/11:00074628
Organization unit Faculty of Sports Studies
Keywords (in Czech) závod a sportovní výkon; sportovní antropometrie; fyzický vývoj a adaptace
Keywords in English race and sports performance; sports anthropometry; human physical evolution and adaptation
Tags rivok
Tags International impact, Reviewed
Changed by Changed by: Mgr. Eva Špillingová, učo 110713. Changed: 27/4/2015 09:59.
Abstract
To our knowledge, this study constitutes the most detailed attempt to cover the extent of human physical variation in the global context. The comparison of national/ethnic Olympic samples with the averages of elite competitors in Olympic sports can also illuminate the mutual relationship of genetic and social factors in sports excellence of certain nations, with sometimes very unexpected results that have fundamental implications for the public perception of widespread racial stereotypes. Furthermore, the results of our study can be used for the purpose of rational sports programs targeting specific sports that are most suitable for the body type of the respective population. Our graphic comparisons show that averages of national/ethnic Olympic samples cluster in a characteristic regional manner and remarkably agree with available anthropometric data. They also reveal a surprisingly high degree of physical differences even within relatively small geographical regions (e.g. Europe or the Near East), which suggests that the speed of human adaptations to local climatic conditions far exceeds the intensity of gene exchange with neighbouring populations.
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