Does your body type dictate your sporting ability??

emmab0902

I have a friend who is a previous commonwealth games cycling coach. He believes that body type is a strong predictor of whether someone is better suited to sprint or endurance sports. By that he means natural body type ie he believes it indicates whether a person is more naturally blessed with fast or slow twitch muscle.

How much of this is genetic and therefore that we should work with what nature gave us. And how much can we influence by exercise and diet.

For example he believes I am more suited to longer distance swimming rather than sprints based on my build. Which funnily enough is what another swimming person has said having trained with me once

Thoughts, experiences, research??

taeliesyn

There is definitely something to it. Look at the general body type of a group of people competing in any sport and you will find similarities.
That said, it's only generally a limiting factor when you want to compete or perform at a top level. There will always be exceptions to the 'rule' but for most people they can do whatever, regardless of body type it just may take more work.