Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Have We Reached the Athletic Limits of the Human Body?
Scientific American ^ | August 5 | Bret Stetka

Posted on 08/18/2016 10:36:11 PM PDT by nickcarraway

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last

1 posted on 08/18/2016 10:36:11 PM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
“You can breed a horse to go faster than ever before or to have stronger muscles but then its legs will break. It really looks like we’ve maxed out the gene pool for thoroughbreds.”

As the old joke about the physicist goes, the case of the spherical horse is *really* interesting.

2 posted on 08/18/2016 10:40:14 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

There are always challenges that can make our tricks get better. As we learn about the mechanics of physiology, in the sport I know best, gymnastics, I can see tweaking requirements to spare some of the weaker parts of the body in order to get even more spectacular achievements while minimizing injury.

If I were gymnastics queen I’d focus less on sticking landings on floor, of have sticking mats that were even more padded or,something, to spare the feet and ankles. So that the passes could increase in difficulty without needing the risk of injury increasing. Use the limits of the body and do new things with it, use technology to help.

Football too - Americans love our football but no one wants their son brain damaged at 25. Or 40. Can technology help with these things? Can small game rule changes help? I believe there will always be ways to excite us with new athletic achievements.


3 posted on 08/18/2016 10:47:58 PM PDT by Yaelle (Sorry, Mr. Franklin. We've been extremely careless with our Republic.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

I can’t even reach my shoes


4 posted on 08/18/2016 10:52:20 PM PDT by dp0622 (The only thing an upper crust conservative hates more than a liberal is a middle class conservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Lots of other scientific articles online dating back six years were predicting the development of a 40-mph human runner, which is about as fast as the fastest horses.


5 posted on 08/18/2016 10:52:51 PM PDT by Olog-hai
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: grey_whiskers

How long before a country start using genetic enhancement to build a better Olympics team, and don’t tell me china hasn’t already started on that...


6 posted on 08/18/2016 10:54:04 PM PDT by GraceG (Only a fool works hard in an environment where hard work is not appreciated...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
I'll soon be 58 years old and I'd probably take 2 minutes to do a 100-yard dash, or stagger if you will.
7 posted on 08/18/2016 10:55:11 PM PDT by gigster (Cogito, Ergo, Ronaldus Magnus Conservatus)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gigster

We reach the limit 70 years ago. It was settled science!


8 posted on 08/18/2016 10:57:06 PM PDT by stocksthatgoup (Don't argue with a Liberal. Ask him simple questions and listen to him stutterThe media fix is in)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: dp0622

9 posted on 08/18/2016 10:58:08 PM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway; Gamecock; SaveFerris; FredZarguna; PROCON; Lil Flower
Yes. There will never be another Izzy Mandelbaum.


10 posted on 08/18/2016 11:15:47 PM PDT by Larry Lucido
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

lol more like the 6 dollar man


11 posted on 08/18/2016 11:16:08 PM PDT by dp0622 (The only thing an upper crust conservative hates more than a liberal is a middle class conservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Yaelle

The new records will be set by the freaks of nature.


12 posted on 08/18/2016 11:16:40 PM PDT by lurk (T)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Ransom E. Olds insisted cars would never go any faster than 100 mph, and no one believed a mile could be run in under four minutes until Roger Bannister did it.

Soon we’ll have she-male athletes with internal sex organs, flipper arms for balance and bionic legs running 100 mph.


13 posted on 08/18/2016 11:19:38 PM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Three of the eight finalists in the Olympic women’s 800m are intersex / hermaphrodites. They have XY chromosomes and in at least one case (probably all 3) internal testes.

There is a good chance that the medals podium in that “women’s” event will not include any biological women.

Hooray for “progress”!


14 posted on 08/18/2016 11:27:42 PM PDT by Dagnabitt (Trump - Because countries without Islamic immigration are countries without Islamic terrorism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

I’m thinking we’re at the limit.. the millennial generation is a prime example. They can barely walk, won’t work, bitch about everything and are overly sensitive pussies (Clint Eastwood’s word).

They look up from their phone or tablet and get neck injuries. They can’t compete because someone would have to lose and we can’t have that.

We’re looking at a gender neutral Olympics in a few years where nations get participation trophies.


15 posted on 08/19/2016 2:19:57 AM PDT by maddog55 (America Rising a new Civil War needs to happen.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
No, training concepts and certain sciences/pharmacology will slowly push superior athletes to garner better “numbers” (Slowly).
16 posted on 08/19/2016 2:25:22 AM PDT by rollo tomasi (Working hard to pay for deadbeats and corrupt politicians.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GraceG
How long before a country start using genetic enhancement to build a better Olympics team, and don’t tell me china hasn’t already started on that...

They are working on it here. More so publicly in Germany. It is why they are forcing the homo/transgender issue so forcefully. To alter the mindset away from spirituality. They are intent on making monsters. Abominations. And when they announce these great works and wonders and say #monster lives matter, people will jump on that bandwagon.

17 posted on 08/19/2016 4:31:01 AM PDT by disndat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: gigster
“I'll soon be 58 years old and I'd probably take 2 minutes to do a 100-yard dash, or stagger if you will.”

At 58, unless you have specific orthopedic issues, there's no reason you couldn't run a fairly quick 100 - if that's something you had any interest in. Don't embrace being ‘old’ in your 50s. I know plenty of people in their 80s who are running and biking long-distances races, who hike up mountains, and are generally very fit.

18 posted on 08/19/2016 4:34:53 AM PDT by pieceofthepuzzle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

First I have heard of the German Super Baby.


19 posted on 08/19/2016 4:50:55 AM PDT by iowamark (I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lurk
They won't be freaks of nature, they will be scientific products. The ground is being prepared for the transhumanism movement. Athletes will be some of the first--in fact, they already are being genetically modified. Check out the following article:

Will genetic cyber-athletes come to dominate sports?

From a Christain perspective, the tranhumanist movement is a likely incubator for the antichrist. Those who are familiar with performance enhancing drugs are aware of the side effects. Roid rage demonstrates that the psychological effects can be as pronounced as the physical. Genetic and physical enhancements will carry similar dangers, not even considering the spiritual implications.

20 posted on 08/19/2016 5:18:16 AM PDT by antidisestablishment (If those who defend our freedom do not know liberty, none of us will have either.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson