Sports and body type

Sporting genes

Your genetic make-up (DNA) pretty accurately forecasts what kind of body you will have and how well it will work. Your sporting abilities are part of this make-up and closely related to the type of body you have. How your body is built is a useful guide to what kind of sport or exercise will suit you most. The three main components (from a sports viewpoint) of how your body is built, consist of the following:

• • Body type

• • Body size (height and weight)

• • Body composition (body fat percentage).

Physiologist William Sheldon observed and classified body types into the following three main categories, namely endomorph, mesomorph and ectomorph.

Endomorphs

Male endomorphs are usually stocky, broad and strong while female endomorphs are pear-shaped, curvy, voluptuous and sexy. Both have relatively short limbs and small hands and feet. Famous male endomorphs include actors Russell Crowe, Robin Williams and Jack Black. (In weightlifting circles one of the greatest moments in Olympic history happened during the 1988 Seoul Olympic when endomorph Naim Sumeaglyou, aka Pocket Hercules, became the first lifter in Olympic history to lift three times his own body weight.) Some of the most beautiful women in show business, such as the late Marilyn Monroe, Jennifer Lopez, Scarlett Johansson and singer Beyonce, are endomorphs.

Most endomorphs have a higher percentage of body fat than the other body types due to their slower, endurance-orientated metabolism. They have to watch what they eat and work a little harder to maintain an ideal body weight and a toned body. However, they are also naturally strong boned and quick to gain muscle and the men usually have well-developed upper bodies. Surprisingly, some of them are extremely quick as well as flexible.

They excel in sports such as:

• • Rugby (in the front line where bulk is useful or as a short and quick scrum half)

• • Power/weightlifting and super-heavyweight boxing

• • Long distance swimming (where the extra body fat helps with insulation and buoyancy)

• • Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing

• • Rowing

• • Shot put, discus and hammer throwing

• • Wrestling.

Although endomorphs have excess body fat, excessive cardio-type training will have a detrimental effect on the muscle mass and power they need to lift weights and throw hammers, etc. They also need to take care of their joints and the extra pressure put on them due to the excess weight and muscle they carry. Instead of jogging rather cycle, row, swim or do race walking to stay fit. Weight training is important to build and maintain muscle strength and flexibility training a must. As every other sport has its own set of energy requirements, a basic level of fitness is needed to keep up with the demands of each sport.

Mesomorphs

Mesomorphs are often referred to as the “genetically gifted” with a natural build and aptitude for sports. Male mesomorphs have the classical V-shaped body with broad shoulders, muscular arms and legs, a narrow waist and minimal body fat. The female mesomorph has an hourglass figure and is trim and slim. Famous mesomorphs include Halle Berry, Jennifer Garner and tennis player Anna Kournikova as well as swimming champ Michael Phelps, tennis player Andrei Agassi and actors Mark Wahlberg and Bruce Willis.

Both male and female mesomorphs gain and lose weight effortlessly and develop muscle quickly. The latter can, however, result in overtraining certain muscle groups at the expense of others, especially by males who end up with a barrel chest and powerful arms on two spindly legs.

They are usually of medium built and excel in sports that combine agility, endurance, speed and strength and in just about every other sport they put their mind to, for example:

• • Figure skating

• • Artistic gymnastics

• • Bodybuilding

• • Soccer and rugby

• • Hockey, cricket, tennis and golf

• • Swimming, especially sprint swimmers and rowing

• • Athletics, especially sprints and triathlons.

Being such all-rounders mesomorphs need all-round training: Cardio, strength, resistance, aerobic as well as flexibility training is the order of the day.

Ectomorphs

Ectomorphs usually have a delicate frame and are mostly medium to tall, slender and thin, slow to gain weight and muscle but with a super-fast metabolism. Power and strength sports are not for them as their slight build leaves them susceptible to injuries. Their long limbs come to good use in racquet sports and some swimming events.

Famous male ectomorphs include actor Brad Pitt and the late Bruce Lee, a martial arts expert, as well as most of the male Olympian Kenyan long-distance runners. The ultimate female ectomorph, the late Audrey Hepburn, and actresses Cameron Diaz and Calista Flockhardt as well as models Kate Moss and Gisele Bundchen, all display the typical endomorph physique. Although this body type is highly regarded by a vast number of females, the down side is that female ectomorphs are often flat chested and wiry and lack the more womanly curves of the endomorphs and mesomorphs.

Ectomorphs dominate in endurance-type sports such as:

• • Marathons, triathlons and other long distance running, cycling and swimming events

• • Cross-country skiing

• • Tennis and squash

• • Rhythmic gymnastics and ballet

• • Basketball.

Ectomorphs have the ability to gain strength, especially in the upper body, without putting on weight (bulk). Weight training combined with eating more calories than you expend will help build muscle. However, experts advise that athletes with this body type focus on the techniques of the sport they are doing and train like performance athletes.

Ectomorphs, although they battle to put on weight, should follow a healthy diet as low levels of body fat can be detrimental to their health. Females are especially at risk and may develop iron deficiencies and menstruation problems.

Conclusion

Most people have attributes of more than one body type. You may be an endomorph with some mesomorph characteristics or vice versa or you may be a mesomorph with some ectomorph characteristics or vice versa. If you are heading for the Olympics or it’s your aim to be best in your chosen sport, knowing your body type and adapting your workout routine accordingly will be most important. Knowing your body type will at least give you an indication of the sports suited to your built and may even point out some sports you never thought of trying.

However, if the sport you are doing or want to do does not fit your body type 100% but you love doing it, the only difference will be that you will have to work much harder to achieve your goals, be more susceptible to injury and most probably not make it to the next Olympic Games. This is a problem that often crops up when parents try to force children to play the sport that they favour without taking into consideration the child’s body type and personality.

Fortunately there are certain types of sports such as rugby and, to a certain degree, soccer where all the body types can be accommodated – albeit in different positions. There are also sports such as shooting where your dedication, concentration and fitness rather than body shape will matter most.

Choosing the sport that best suits your body type will not only benefit you physically but will also make it easier to succeed … and who doesn’t benefit from the feelings of self-worth and satisfaction associated with success?

 

Sources
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Endomorph body type; mesomorph body type; ectomorph body type. Retrieved from: http://superskinnyme.com
Geraghty, F. Body type and sport. Retrieved from: http://www.charteredphysiotherapy.com/art1.htm
Ruiz, PF. 2005. Just your type. Retrieved from: http://experiencelife.com/article/just-your-type
What sport suits your body type? 2012. Retrieved from: http://www.healthandfitnesstravel.com/blog/which-sport-suits-your-body-shape