Posted on 08/19/2008 10:55:31 AM PDT by Arec Barrwin
Jamaican Me Speedy - Why are Jamaicans so good at sprinting? By Nina Shen Rastogi Posted Monday, Aug. 18, 2008, at 6:57 PM ET
Jamaicans dominated the Olympic 100-meter sprint this weekend, with Usain Bolt setting a world record and his teammates taking all three medals in the women's event. Jamaica is a poor, tiny nation about half the size of New Jersey. What makes its people such champion sprinters?
A combination of nature and nurture. Runners of West African descent—which includes Jamaicans as well as most African-Americans—seem to be built for speed: In 2004, they held all but five of the 500 best times in the 100-meter dash. (East Africans, such as Kenyans and Ethiopians, rule the long-distance field.) Several biological factors may be coming into play here. One study conducted in Quebec in the 1980s found that black West African students had significantly higher amounts of "fast-twitch" muscle fibers—the kind that are responsible for short, explosive bursts of action—than white French Canadians did. (So far, there is no evidence that even extensive training can turn slow-twitch muscles into fast-twitch ones, though moving in the other direction is possible.)
(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...
They probably better training and coaches than the West Africans. Of course, don’t rule out steroids.
In 1982 Nehemiah worked out for several NFL teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Francisco 49ers and ended up signing with the 49ers in a blaze of publicity and high expectations. During his three years as a wide receiver he caught 43 passes for 754 yards, a 17.5 average, and 4 touchdowns. Although he was part of the Super Bowl winning team in the 1984 season, he did not play a major role. His football career was a failure - indeed, it represents one of the most glaring mistakes ever made by 49er head coach Bill Walsh - winning Nehemiah a comparison to the track star Jimmie (Oops) Hines, who won his infamous nickname for his inability to catch the ball.
They'd talk amongst themselves a bit, then say "no problem, mon."
Every couple of weeks one of them would find you and say "Hey mon, we got dat fuel tank ting." or something like that.
In about 6 months they'd track you down, take you back to the beach, and proudly present you with a working space shuttle.
L
Of course it's also the only country I've ever been to where they try to sell you ganja at the Airport BEFORE you've gone through Customs.
I told the enterprising gentleman that I thought it more prudent to wait until they'd cleared our luggage.....
LOL.
L
“Because they are poor, they run for sport.”
If Usain Bolt grew up in the USA, he would probably be starting his Junior year as a star college football player, probably receiver, getting ready to be a first round draft pick in the NFL.
none live in Jamaica.
But if whites and Asians don't run as fast, shouldn't they have been wiped out by the faster black tribes?
Their adaptation was to move to a nicer neighborhood. This process continues. Canadians prefer life in the freezing snow to dealing with other tribes.
Looks like a couple of boys are “open for business” prison style if you get what I mean.
I hear you.
The shuttle bus was completely filled with smoke 30 seconds out of the airport.
I knew it was gonna be easy but not THAT easy!!
I was beginning to think I was the only one who remembered that show. I had the biggest crush on Melanie Chartoff back then.
Ocho Rios is the place to be!
Me too...
L
Bob Hayes at Dallas did okay.
Boston is beautiful. It’s the home of jerk pork, and the western side of the island is the most beautiful, Portland. But the road from Kingston to Port Antonio are crappy, crappy, crappy. Bring your dramamine or ginger ale to calm your stomach. However, driving from Ochi to Portland isn’t such a bad drive although there was a lot of road construction when I was there in February. Enjoy your time there.
I think we ate jerk chicken or pork every day we were there. And those meat pies that are the Jamaican hamburger are wonderful. Every place makes them differently, but we never had one we thought was bad.
Next time we go I think we'll avoid the roads entirely and hire one of those bush planes!
L
that question is racist... or at least, racial... /s
Yes, Negril is beautiful. We once stayed at a villa that had pink buildings, across the street from some wood carvers. The sunsets were gorgeous. It was great! The meat pies are patties. Those are my favorite and I could eat those every day.
Did you also try the Ackee and Saltfish, Bammy, Doubles and Roti?/Just Asking - seoul62.....
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