emaciated athletes?

Most athletes have very minimal body fat just by virtue of all the training they do - it's why they're able to eat more calories, but it's also why they're still unable to eat as many calories as they should. Maybe Phelps can manage 12K calories a day, but I'm full by 2K myself, and 2800 is probably the most I've ever managed to eat.

Most of the definition you see on the athletes is bone, muscle, and organs. Until they stop training, they probably won't have enough body fat - and it's probably more aerodynamic when they don't. They don't, however, appear emaciated to me. They look healthy from where I'm sitting - emaciated, to me, means skeletal, not enough fat and muscle.

Having watched part of the Olympic marathon on the box I must admit that the bodies of the female runners look unhealthy to me....bones jutting out and some muscle ...no curves at all! I think they look too thin, anyone agree? How on earth do they maintain the stamina to do it...

Yeah I was watching Paula Radcliffe, our UK entry in womens running and she looks gaunt. While they're probably really healthy, they look a bit scary! I like my bum and boobs and waist...and I hate running :laugh:

Oh, yeah, I hear ya on the hatin' of the runnin'!!!!!

I think it's just all a question of your sport molding your body. If I was running for 26 miles (and mind you that is the biggest IF ever) the last thing I would want is an extra ounce of body weight to carry. Also, I can't imagine the amount of physical training that goes in to that.

My favorite thing about the olympics is how different the athlete's bodies look in different sports. If I saw the majority of the olympic-class heavy power lifters or shot putters on the street, I would have no idea they were a world class athlete. . .they'd just look big.

Long distance runners are their own special animal, long and lean. Which is one of the major reasons I'll never be a long distance runner. Oh, that and the actual having to run part. . .

I dont' think they look too skinny-they are top Athletes and no doubt train as many hours and one would work at a full-time job. I would expect them to be all muscle and very little fat. There is a difference between unhealthy skinny and atheletic thin-not all atheles are going to look like the Williams sisters!

Branagh and Youngs look great ... I haven't worn a two piece bathing suit in 40 years - but I sure could go for those flat bellies!

Having watched part of the Olympic marathon on the box I must admit that the bodies of the female runners look unhealthy to me....bones jutting out and some muscle ...no curves at all! I think they look too thin, anyone agree? How on earth do they maintain the stamina to do it...

Yeah I was watching Paula Radcliffe, our UK entry in womens running and she looks gaunt. While they're probably really healthy, they look a bit scary! I like my bum and boobs and waist...and I hate running :laugh:

I was noticing how horribly thin they were too. It is so not attractive. But, they have to be in great shape to run that long, that's for sure!! My brother is in China watching the Olympics, I am so jealous!!

Maybe she is a tall girl...tall people usually carry their weight really well.

I think they all look pretty good. They have the right body type for their sport, and have developed it carefully over many years. Just my 2 cents.

WOW, a lot of haters here...:grumble:

My two cents: No they look like runners....:happy:

I do like running and would love to run a marathon when I get there.. it is a LOT of hard work and a LOT of training. Yes, I like my curves too but these woman are performing elite level running -- and each body is shaped to the sport.

Jealousy and envy are not pretty... :laugh:

Yeah they look like runners and are lean mean muscle machines!! But I just don't think it's attractive...but then again I hate muscles on men aswell, they gimme the creeps.

I'd rather look like me than Paula Radcliffe. Plus she peed on the street during one her marathons and the whole world saw :laugh:

Too funny.. you know I have a story on this one... a girl I went to boot camp with peed herself (her words) every day we ran -- which was every day. Poor thing.

I don't necessarily find it an attractive figure either but ya gotta give credit where credit is due.. I like a lean, soft body not a body fat free body!! Hopefully that makes sense.