According to science, it’s a mixture of training methods, access to resources, mental fortitude, and genetics — though we’re not 100 percent sure how human athletes have gotten this great.
And who’s to say we can’t get even better?
Bile’s coordination, balance, and muscle control help her seemingly defy physics when she’s off the ground. If she’s moving fast enough, Biles can flip three full times in the air — a feat she famously accomplished in 2021.
Katie Ledecky beat several world records in swimming in the last decade — part of a trend for women athletes in recent years.
One study predicts the massive achievements in women’s sports likely have to do with social factors such as increased encouragement and higher expectations for female athletes, rather than physical ability.
You may never be as fast as Usain Bolt, who can run 100 meters in 9.58 seconds. But physiologists suggest that someday, someone will probably top that ridiculous record.
But for now, a faster human speed than Bolt’s is purely theoretical.
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Research shows that mental endurance is also an important factor when running, swimming, or biking long distances.
However, there’s a catch: only so much confidence can actually get you to complete an endurance task successfully.
The Fosbury Flop is a tactic where athletes arch their backs as they fly back over the bar — lowering their center of gravity and making it possible to soar higher. It wasn’t commonly used until the late 1960s.
Ryan Crouser holds the world record for shot put, which he set in 2021. Several critical factors had to work together to crush what was formerly a 31-year-old record.
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