No. of Recommendations: 1
For many (but certainly not all) sports, the most elite athletes will always have body types that are near-optimal for that sport - genetic advantages that "normies" will not have. We don't really express sympathy or support for the "normies" who have to swim against a Ledecky or a Phelps without having the advantages that their genes give them. All of the athletes at this level engaged in gobsmacking amounts of training and sacrifice and have enormous skill....but in many elite physical competitions, it doesn't matter how hard you work or train if you don't have the accompanying optimal (or near-optimal) body type for that sport.
And let's face it, we meet people in our lives that tried, but lacked a genetic advantage for a sport. When I was in High School I knew this short fellow who was densely built and muscular. Wanted to be a pro football player, and played. He was good, but he was short. You knew he wouldn't make it into the pros, but he gave it a shot. I was impressed by his dedication. We admire people who overcome that lack, too.
