Some people seem to be born with natural athleticism and excel in sports from a young age. They have the body type, coordination, and physical abilities that give them an edge in athletic performance. So what causes some people to develop an athletic build and abilities? There are several factors that contribute to having a natural athletic physique and talent.
Genetics and Body Type
Genetics play a major role in determining your natural build and physical abilities. Some of us inherit genes from our parents that code for traits suitable for athletic success like height, muscle fiber type, limb length, fast-twitch muscle fibers, and VO2 max (aerobic capacity). People with a lean, mesomorphic somatotype (muscular and athletically built) tend to excel in strength, speed, and power activities. An ectomorphic build (slim and lightly muscled) lends itself better to endurance activities. If your parents were gifted athletes, you’re more likely to have a genetic predisposition for athletic talent.
Muscle Fiber Composition
We have two main types of muscle fibers – slow twitch (Type I) and fast twitch (Type II). Fast twitch fibers contract faster and more powerfully, enabling short bursts of speed and strength. Slow twitch fibers contract more slowly but have greater endurance. Elite athletes tend to have a higher proportion of fast twitch fibers, allowing them to generate great power, acceleration, and quickness. They also recruit more muscle fibers simultaneously than non-athletes. Your muscle fiber makeup is determined by genetics.
Early Motor Skill Development
Children who develop good motor skills like balance, coordination, and agility from an early age are at an advantage when it comes to athletic performance. They find it easier to pick up physical skills like running, jumping, catching, and change of direction. Early proficiency in fundamental movements provides a solid foundation for future sports skills. Kids who are active and encouraged to play sports from a young age develop motor competence that supports later athletic success.
Body Awareness
Some people are born with superior body awareness and proprioception – the awareness of body position and movement in space. They have an innate sense of where their body is oriented at all times. This allows them to coordinate and control body movements with precision, grace, and fluidity of motion. Excellent body awareness is a huge asset in athletic activities and sports. It enables precise footwork, coordinated sequences of movements, and smooth transitions between positions.
Reaction Time
Athletes who excel at sports like sprinting, tennis, baseball, football, hockey, and basketball typically have very fast reaction times. This is the time between the onset of a stimulus like a starting gun or pitched ball and the initiation of movement in response. Shorter reaction time allows quick responses to what you see and hear during competition. Quicker reaction time helps athletes change direction rapidly, get a jump start on opponents, and respond immediately to game situations. Faster neural processing and signal transmission equate to faster reaction time.
Environment and Upbringing
The environment you grew up in can significantly impact your athletic development. If you were encouraged to be active and play sports from a young age, you’re more likely to build athletic skills and an athletic physique. Access to sports facilities, coaching, and opportunities to compete also facilitate athletic growth. Growing up in a family of athletes or sports-oriented environment often nurtures the motivation and competitive spirit needed for sports success. Surrounding yourself with athletic people shapes your mindset and priorities around sports and fitness.
Training From Youth
Starting sports training at a young age provides an advantage in developing athleticism. Taking part in youth sports teaches fundamental movement skills, proper technique for sports-specific skills, coordination, motor skills, and fitness. It builds a strong foundation of athletic ability. Year-round training in one sport develops specific physiological adaptations and technical proficiency that support superior performance in that sport. Early involvement in competitive sports fosters the persistence, discipline, and work ethic required to excel athletically.
Natural Talent
While clearly not the only factor, some people do seem to possess an innate natural talent and aptitude for sports and athletic performance. They have an inherent ability to run faster, jump higher, lift more, and acquire new sports skills more easily. Their bodies respond and adapt rapidly to training. Natural talent likely arises from a complex interaction of genetics, physiology, psychology, environments, and behaviors. But there does appear to be an X-factor of pure natural ability in some superstar athletes that can’t be fully explained.
Physiological Factors
In addition to the developmental and environmental factors discussed above, several physiological characteristics contribute to a naturally athletic build and physical abilities:
Muscular Strength and Power
Athletes tend to have greater muscle mass, strength, and power capabilities – particularly in their legs, core, and upper body. Strength and power are foundational for athletic performance and success in most sports. Greater absolute muscle strength allows athletes to generate more force and power. The strength and size of muscles involved in specific sports determines performance potential in those activities.
Muscle Fiber Composition
As mentioned earlier, elite athletes tend to have a higher percentage of fast-twitch muscle fibers. These powerful fast-twitch fibers contract forcefully and rapidly, enabling explosive speed, quickness, and power. Sports like sprinting, jumping, and throwing require fast-twitch fiber dominance. Endurance athletes like marathoners have more slow-twitch fibers optimized for sustained activity rather than short bursts. Your muscle fiber makeup is primarily determined by genetics.
Anaerobic Capacity
Athletes excel at short, intense, all-out bursts of exercise utilizing the anaerobic energy system. This involves energy release without oxygen via glycolysis and the phosphagen system. Fast glycolytic and intermediate muscle fibers fuel these explosive anaerobic efforts. Superior anaerobic capacity allows athletes to sprint at high speed, jump high, and rapidly perform skills and change direction during competition.
Aerobic Capacity
While anaerobic fitness is most important for success in team sports, a well-developed aerobic system supports overall athletic performance. VO2 max is a measure of aerobic power – the maximum amount of oxygen your body can process during intense exercise. Athletes often have high VO2 max levels which provide endurance, quick recovery during intervals of activity, and ability to repeat high-intensity efforts. Greater lung capacity, heart size, blood volume, capillarization, and mitochondria density contribute to their impressive aerobic capabilities.
Muscle Glycogen Stores
Glycogen is the storable form of glucose in muscles and the liver. It provides the energy source for short, intense anaerobic bursts. Athletes have greater glycogen reserves in their muscles which fuels their ability to perform repeated high-intensity activities like sprinting, jumping, changing direction, and skill execution. More fuel in the tank allows longer duration and higher power anaerobic efforts.
Muscle Buffer Capacity
During intense muscle contraction, lactic acid accumulation causes muscle acidosis and fatigue. Athletes have greater muscle buffering capacity which helps delay fatigue by neutralizing lactic acid buildup. Increased muscle carnosine levels enable high-intensity anaerobic activities with less discomfort, longer time to exhaustion, and quicker recovery between efforts.
AnatomicalCharacteristics
Certain anatomical characteristics associated with natural athleticism include:
- Long Achilles tendons for elastic energy return and running economy
- Higher proportion of fast-twitch fibers packed into muscles
- Larger heart size enabling greater stroke volume and cardiac output
- Larger lung capacity providing greater oxygen supply
- Narrower pelvis allowing longer and more powerful running strides
- Higher 24-hour energy expenditure from a faster metabolism
These anatomical traits (largely genetic) facilitate superior athletic capacities in sports like sprinting, jumping, running, and general sports performance.
Psychological Qualities
In addition to physical attributes, many psychological and mental factors contribute to a naturally athletic disposition and sports success:
Competitive Drive
Elite athletes possess an insatiable desire to compete, win, achieve goals, and be the best. Their hypercompetitive nature fuels consistent intense training, perseverance through challenges, and ability to perform under pressure. The will to win and determination to succeed are powerful motivators. Athletic prowess starts with a competitive mindset.
Aggression and Tenacity
Many top athletes compete with controlled aggression, intensity, and tenacity. They have a fierce, almost intimidating competitive spirit. Combined with skill, this mental toughness and resolute mentality wear down opponents. Refusing to back down or concede, they find ways to win through sheer force of will. This mental tenacity gives them an edge in crunch time.
Resilience
Bouncing back from failures, injuries, mistakes, or tough losses is vital for athletes. They can’t dwell on setbacks. Natural athletes have a high degree of mental resilience that allows them to overcome challenges and quickly refocus on the next play, game, or event. Letting go of negativity and getting back in the zone comes easier to them. They have faith in their abilities even when struggling.
Confidence
Belief in yourself and your preparation leads to athletic success. Many superstar athletes exude an extreme self-confidence that gives them a competitive advantage. This faith in their training and abilities allows them to perform up to their potential consistently. They trust their instincts and physical gifts will shine through. Quiet confidence and poise under pressure separate the great athletes.
Focus and Concentration
The ability to block out distractions, narrow focus, and concentrate intently leads to consistency executing skills, strategies, and goals. Athletes with laser-like focus can get in the zone at will to enhance performance. They tune out crowds, opposition, fatigue, and anything else that might disrupt their penchant to fully concentrate each moment on the task at hand. Their selective attention skills are outstanding.
Composure
Great athletes stay cool, calm, and collected in even the most intense competitive situations. Their emotions don’t get the best of them. Composure allows logical decision-making, optimal performance, and coming through in the clutch. They don’t panic or fear consequences. Keeping their head when all about are losing theirs is a hallmark of top athletes.
Intuition and Creativity
Many athletes are blessed with great intuitive feel and anticipation for their sports. They read plays unfolding and instinctively react faster than others. Excellent pattern recognition of scenarios they’ve experienced many times before enables quick appropriate responses. Their creativity, improvisation, and flair for the spontaneous make them adaptable and unpredictable competitors.
Work Ethic and Dedication
Natural athletic talent can only take you so far. To reach the top, athletes must put in tireless work perfecting skills, increasing strength and endurance, practicing, watching film, and striving to improve daily. The greats have an insatiable work ethic and unwavering dedication to their sport. They’re devoted to the continual sacrifice and preparation required for excellence. This work ethic maximizes potential.
Leadership
Many iconic athletes are also consummate leaders who make their teammates better. They lead by example, inspire others with their work ethic, and hold their teams accountable. Their competitive zeal is contagious. Natural leaders boost morale, organize and direct others, and spearhead preparation. Leadership abilities enable athletes to raise the performance of the whole team.
Conclusion
A naturally athletic physique and talent are the product of a complex interaction between genetics, physiology, anatomy, environment, training, and psychology. Athletic prowess starts with a genetic predisposition for traits like muscle fiber composition, reaction time, VO2 max, anatomical structure, and personality tendencies that lend themselves to sports excellence. But natural physical abilities must be developed to potential through comprehensive training, practice, opportunity, instruction, competition, determination, and work ethic. The combination of nature and nurture enables those with natural athleticism to rise to the elite ranks in their sport.
