Very interesting read. It was great to find out more about Alex and I particularly liked watching that video with the $500 tip. Very moving.
Really interesting as well to find out about how certain body features can help athletes perform at their best. I can think of similar examples in music, where certain characteristics have helped singers access certain registers a bit more easily (Mariah's nodules come to mind).
Thanks, Andy….glad you liked this one! I had never heard of anthropometry (I hope I got it right…from memory!), and it was fascinating to learn about, especially how it affects two accomplished athletes.
I’m also amazed at how it’s other, outside factors that can (and do) motivate these athletes to enter their sport in the first place…As for Phelps, he didn’t just look in the mirror and evaluate what we all now know about his body (and deduce that, “Hey! I bet this body could help me swim fast!”).
If memory serves, his mom just suggested the young Michael spend the day/summer/whatever at the pool! Turns out he loved it, and it was pure serendipity that his love of swimming just happened to be by a lad who had “the perfect swimmer’s body”!
As for Alex, same thing: He just developed a love for baseball, and never (probably) realized his arm length would help him hit in this way or that! Until way into his career, at least!
And, you’re right about anthropometry affecting musicians, too! And, Mariah and her nodules (great book title, btw!) is a great example! A neat list awaits of musicians/singers who have physical traits that help them be world class (Dizzy Gillespie’s elastic cheeks come to mind)!
Very interesting read. It was great to find out more about Alex and I particularly liked watching that video with the $500 tip. Very moving.
Really interesting as well to find out about how certain body features can help athletes perform at their best. I can think of similar examples in music, where certain characteristics have helped singers access certain registers a bit more easily (Mariah's nodules come to mind).
Thanks, Andy….glad you liked this one! I had never heard of anthropometry (I hope I got it right…from memory!), and it was fascinating to learn about, especially how it affects two accomplished athletes.
I’m also amazed at how it’s other, outside factors that can (and do) motivate these athletes to enter their sport in the first place…As for Phelps, he didn’t just look in the mirror and evaluate what we all now know about his body (and deduce that, “Hey! I bet this body could help me swim fast!”).
If memory serves, his mom just suggested the young Michael spend the day/summer/whatever at the pool! Turns out he loved it, and it was pure serendipity that his love of swimming just happened to be by a lad who had “the perfect swimmer’s body”!
As for Alex, same thing: He just developed a love for baseball, and never (probably) realized his arm length would help him hit in this way or that! Until way into his career, at least!
And, you’re right about anthropometry affecting musicians, too! And, Mariah and her nodules (great book title, btw!) is a great example! A neat list awaits of musicians/singers who have physical traits that help them be world class (Dizzy Gillespie’s elastic cheeks come to mind)!