3 HN users recommended this talk3 months2014–2020score 3.5
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026
HN links it in threads about athlete body types, sports technology and record-breaking as a relevant, counter-intuitive explanation.
David Epstein argues in this TED talk that improving athletic records owe much to technology, training and the selection of specialized body types, not just humans getting inherently better. He gives counter-intuitive examples across sports.
Professional sports today are the more result of artificial selection of people that have specialized bodies for their sport. Relevant TED talk: [this video]
Pro athletes reflect selection of specialized bodies for each sport.
I can attest that running on a thick plated pair of shoes like the Zoom Fly SP I had is exhilarating, especially after training in other "normal" shoes. I see how the competition should measure athleticism and not a sponsor/athlete unit, but all recent records have been broken because of technology, let's be honest. I suggest you watch this TEDx for reference: [this video]
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