| The Secret Behind Jamaican Runners |
| Written by urbanlife.se |
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“Every time you win, it diminishes the fear a little bit.
You never really cancel the fear of losing; you keep challenging it.” ~Arthur Ashe  “The Bolt stunned the world!” – No! We are not talking of a thunderbolt but about Usain Bolt, who stunned the world with his great sprint to the finish line in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He has not only broken his own records but also created new world records for the 100m sprint (9.69s) and 200m (19.30s). So what is the similarity between Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Shelly-Ann Fraser, and Veronica Campbell-Brown? They are all gold medalists in track and events (athletics) in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and they are all from Jamaica. Surprised? How can athletes from such a small country suddenly break world records made by the US, and the UK? Did Jamaica athletes take a secret medicine before the run? Were they blessed by the God of Strength? Or is there something genetically far more superior about them?
According to a new research, scientists have started to believe that it is actually in the genes. This new genes theory has been formulated by Professor Errol Morrison from University of Technology (Utec) in Kingston. According to him, nature is the “secret” behind the convincing wins by Jamaicans in World Athletic events in the recent past.
Various tests were conducted on several Jamaican athletes like Sherone Simpson, Asafa Powell, and Grace Jackson. The results from the tests indicated that all the athletes possessed a special component that is known as Actinen A. Actinen A is found in their fast-twitch muscles and this component determines whether a person is going to become a sprinter or just another plodder. The surprising fact is that there is a generous amount of Actinen A in 70% of Jamaicans vis-à-vis Australians, who have just 30%. This is probably one of the biggest achievements in genetic science as much as it is a reason for Jamaicans to celebrate. They have finally arrived! Another important factor is the composition of fibers in the body. The composition of fiber can actually affect the overall performance in athletics. Now here’s a surprise element: a Jamaican with just 4 hour of rigorous training can outcompete an American or a European who undergoes 8 hours of training. It is because Jamaicans like some of the black population from Africa have a high anaerobic capacity, which maximizes upon their existing ability to sprint, run, and jump. Another biological element that has helped Jamaicans as well as Kenyans in Athletics is the high number of blood-carrying capillaries that surround their muscle fibers. They also have a higher number of mitochondria within their muscle fibers. Mitochondria are small power stations that process glucose that comes with the oxygen. Hence, they are able to get more power and energy to sustain their performance for sprints as well as long-distance running. It is yet too early to say what lies ahead but one thing is for sure: The Jamaicans are here to stay just like their coffee!
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