| > preventing athletes from modifying their biochemistry turns most sports into a genetic lottery showcase. Genetics are necessary to a point, and are not at all sufficient. Any follower of a sport knows of athletes with incredible genetic blessings who accomplish little or nothing because they lack the hard work, discipline, focus, skill, emotional management, teamwork, etc. to succeed. And that sample omits far more athletes whose non-genetic limitations caused them to drop out or fail out before making it to the level where public is aware of them. At the same time, the GOATs (greatest of all time) in many sports were not particularly blessed genetically, relative to other top atheletes: * Football / soccer: Lionel Messi: 5'7", ~160 lbs., and had growth hormone deficiency [0], and is small, and not particularly fast or strong. "Messi’s “software” is what often gives him a head-start on those who physically should have the better of him." If you're interested, this article describes it in some detail: [1] * American football: Tom Brady was notoriously unathletic, setting records for poor performance in the NFL's scouting 'combine' where draft prospects are compared in standardized tests. Also didn't have a strong throwing arm. * Basketball is an exception: Michael Jordan was supremely athletic. * Baseball: Babe Ruth was overweight, not known to be particularly fast or athletic, and played a position for relatively poor athletes who could hit: right field (gets the fewest plays, usually doesn't require more than running to a spot and throwing). * Hockey: Wayne Gretzky was relatively small, not very fast, didn't have a hard shot. * Tennis? Boxing? Cricket? Rugby? These people are far more athletic than ordinary people, of course; I'm comparing them to other professionals in their sports. [0] Wikipedia [1] https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4008225/2022/12/16/lionel-m... |