Genetics... Do they matter?

Hey guys, post number two! Here it goes.

So, when we are training day after day to reach our potential you think to yourself "keep going you can do this". You want to win that Olympic Gold medal or the World Cup, whatever your endeavors may be, big or small. The truth is, you can have all the skill in the world but skill doesn't win Olympic Gold on it's own. Hard work, determination as well as the skill will win you that final. It doesn't come easy. Nothing does in this life. So, if your dream is to be an Olympic Champion or a World Champion in your chosen sport then my advice to you is to work hard and never give up. Winners never give up and that is what can lead to your success. You don't just stop training when you're tired you stop when you are done. I don't know much about boxing but I loved Muhammad Ali and what he did in sport and so when I am training and trying to reach my goals I always remember him and in particular his saying: "Don't quit, suffer now and live the rest of your life a champion". Whenever I feel things aren't going right this is what I think of. Because we only get one shot to be the best we can be so we need to work now.

But the main question is... Do our genetics make a difference? Simple answer. Yes. Our genetics play a huge role in defining our futures. If you put it this way, you're either born an Olympic Champion or you're not. Now that's not to say there's no in between, of course there is! But to be an Olympic champion you can thank your genetics. In short that is, obviously victory doesn't just come that easy. A favorable genetic profile combined with natural skill and hard work and dedication is what makes a champion. But you need all three to be the best. Not very many genes are consistently linked with elite athlete performance but we still rely on our genes. And for those of you wondering, these genes, which aid athletic performance stem from our mother not our father so make sure you thank your mum when you become Olympic champion! Science itself has discovered the role genetics play in elite athlete performance. Genetic testing can be carried out in which we are tested for certain genes and this will tell us if we have the right genes to contribute to athletic performance. Genetic testing, however, isn't all that useful in identifying talent from a group of people. Although genetics play a huge role in defining our future, they don't control our life and we can still make what we want of it. 

To conclude, genetics do make a difference but aren't the sole factor in defining a champion. Genes play a role in athletic performance only if accompanied by the correct training environment and hard work ethic put in by the individual. Michael Phelps is a brilliant example. He trained and trained and trained and all his hard work, along with his natural skill allowed him to be Olympic Champion. So my advice to you is to work hard and prove you can be the best, no one is stopping you after all! So work hard and put that skill you were given to good use. Follow your dreams! Live the life you want. 

I hope this post was somewhat interesting to you guys and that you took something from it. If you have any questions you want answered feel free to leave a comment and I'll try answer in future posts. Thanks guys!