Starting sports at an early age does not necessarily provide athletes with an advantage, and practice levels accounts for just 1% of the difference in elite athlete performances, new research from Case Western Reserve University has found
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“While practice is necessary for elite athletes to reach a high level of competition, after a certain point, the amount of practice essentially stops differentiating who makes it far and who makes it to the very top,” said lead author Brooke Macnamara, assistant professor of psychological sciences at Case Western Reserve University.
“Human performance is incredibly complex,” she said. “Multiple factors need to be considered, only one of which is practice.”
According to the study practice explains about 18% of why some athletes perform better or worse than others, with 82% of this difference attributed to factors other than practice.
The findings counter the notion that anyone can become an expert or elite athlete with 10,000 hours of practice, a theory inspired by research from Florida State University professor Anders Ericsson in the early 1990s and popularized in the mainstream since.
“The concept of 10,000 hours taps into the American ideal of hard work and dedication leading naturally to excellence,” said Macnamara. “But it does not account for the inherent differences across people and across sports.”
And despite some research suggesting starting young gives an athlete more time to build skills critical to attaining high performance levels, this study contradicts this.
Higher-skill athletes start at about the same age as less-skilled athletes – or even began a little later – according to Macnamara’s research. In fact, athletes may benefit from waiting to specialise in one sport: A more physically mature athlete can accomplish the fundamentals of an activity more easily, with a lower risk of injury from overuse.
Factors other than practice believed to influence athletic performance include genetic attributes, such as fast-twitch muscles and maximum blood oxygenation level; cognitive and psychological traits and behaviours — including confidence, performance anxiety, intelligence and working memory capacity
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“As we look at multiple factors, I don’t think we’ll ever be able to — with 100% certainty — predict someone’s performance in any activity, not just sports,” Macnamara said. “But we can do better than we’re doing now.”
Attitude splits elite athletes from the ‘almosts’
The 500 competitors will take on one of the most physically and mentally demanding running races of the year. The course, which Red Bull promises tests the limits of human endurance, will follow a difficult and treacherous route across 22,8 miles of the National Park.
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And the participants will have to be tactical if they want to be in with a chance of winning as there are four steeples to reach, and if they fall into the slowest third at the first three they will be eliminated. Only 40 runners will reach the final steeple in Lynmouth (Steeplechasing )
At the first knockout, Trentishoe, 160 male runners and 160 female runners will make it through to the next stage. At the second knockout, Martinhoe, 90 male runners and 90 female runners will make it through and after the third knockout, Lynton, only 20 runners will remain from each category.
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The name steeplechasing derives from early horse races when riders raced from church steeple to church steeple, jumping fences and ditches and crossing many intervening obstacles on the way.
Registration for the event opens 5 July, pre-register your interest here
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The 500 competitors will take on one of the most physically and mentally demanding running races of the year. The course, which Red Bull promises tests the limits of human endurance, will follow a difficult and treacherous route across 22,8 miles of the National Park.
Advertisement
And the participants will have to be tactical if they want to be in with a chance of winning as there are four steeples to reach, and if they fall into the slowest third at the first three they will be eliminated. Only 40 runners will reach the final steeple in Lynmouth (Steeplechasing )
At the first knockout, Trentishoe, 160 male runners and 160 female runners will make it through to the next stage. At the second knockout, Martinhoe, 90 male runners and 90 female runners will make it through and after the third knockout, Lynton, only 20 runners will remain from each category.
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The name steeplechasing derives from early horse races when riders raced from church steeple to church steeple, jumping fences and ditches and crossing many intervening obstacles on the way.
Registration for the event opens 5 July, pre-register your interest here
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The Leeds event will be held on the weekend of June 10-11 2017, again hosted as a partnership between Leeds City Council, UK Sport, the ITU and the organising team of British Triathlon and IRONMAN.
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It is reported in excess of 80,000 people lined the route of the elite races from Roundhay Park to Leeds city centre, where Gwen Jorgensen and Ali Brownlee triumphed in grandstand finished on Millenium Square.
However despite the elite races being a success, there were organisational issues for the 6,000 people taking part in the mass-participation triathlon events across the weekend, which left many stranded in the city centre for hours without their belongings.
World Triathlon Leeds: organisational issues blight age-group event
British Triathlon have released a statement apologising for the chaos saying: “We are sorry for the anxiety, frustration and inconvenience that was caused. The organising team of British Triathlon and IRONMAN want to address the problems from last weekend and get them right for future events.”
The Leeds event in 2017 is race four in an eight-leg ITU World Triathlon Series (further events may be added), following on from Abu Dhabi, Gold Coast and Yokohama. After Leeds the series moves on to Hamburg, Edmonton and Stockholm before the Grand Final in Rotterdam in September.
Jack Buckner, Chief Executive of British Triathlon, said: “To be able to put triathlon into the heart of a major city, right in front of people on the streets and on live television is really important in terms of the profile of our sport, and I¹m delighted that the ITU World Triathlon Series will be back in Leeds in 2017.”
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To see more responses to the organisational chaos at WTS Leeds from 220 readers, head over to our forum discussion – and don’t forget to leave your thoughts on this latest update in the comments!
The Leeds event will be held on the weekend of June 10-11 2017, again hosted as a partnership between Leeds City Council, UK Sport, the ITU and the organising team of British Triathlon and IRONMAN.
Advertisement
It is reported in excess of 80,000 people lined the route of the elite races from Roundhay Park to Leeds city centre, where Gwen Jorgensen and Ali Brownlee triumphed in grandstand finished on Millenium Square.
However despite the elite races being a success, there were organisational issues for the 6,000 people taking part in the mass-participation triathlon events across the weekend, which left many stranded in the city centre for hours without their belongings.
World Triathlon Leeds: organisational issues blight age-group event
British Triathlon have released a statement apologising for the chaos saying: “We are sorry for the anxiety, frustration and inconvenience that was caused. The organising team of British Triathlon and IRONMAN want to address the problems from last weekend and get them right for future events.”
The Leeds event in 2017 is race four in an eight-leg ITU World Triathlon Series (further events may be added), following on from Abu Dhabi, Gold Coast and Yokohama. After Leeds the series moves on to Hamburg, Edmonton and Stockholm before the Grand Final in Rotterdam in September.
Jack Buckner, Chief Executive of British Triathlon, said: “To be able to put triathlon into the heart of a major city, right in front of people on the streets and on live television is really important in terms of the profile of our sport, and I¹m delighted that the ITU World Triathlon Series will be back in Leeds in 2017.”
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To see more responses to the organisational chaos at WTS Leeds from 220 readers, head over to our forum discussion – and don’t forget to leave your thoughts on this latest update in the comments!
Setting the pace through the opening 750m swim and then simply riding away from the entire field over the 20km bike leg, the British duo had established a lead of well over a minute and a half before hitting the run course, leaving the large chase pack with no chance to catch them. It was then a sprint finish to decide the victor with Lucy Hall just getting the better of Jessica Learmonth.
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It has been a successful year for Hall and this title adds to her winning the ETU World Cup race in Spain last month
Bronze medallist Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) was still 43 seconds behind Learmonth at the finish.
In the elite men’s race followed home favourite and Rio-bound Vincent Luis (FRA) took gold, while Rostislav Pevtsov (AZE) took silver, and GB’s Grant Sheldon won bronze very tight battle for the final podium position and the Bronze medal.
Châteauroux ETU Sprint Triathlon European Championships
750m / 20km / 5km
Elite Women
1st – Lucy Hall (GBR) – 57:48
2nd – Jessica Learmonth (GBR) – 57:49
3rd – Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) – 58:32
9th – Heather Sellars (GBR) – 59:10
Elite Men
1st – Vincent Luis (FRA) – 51:59
2nd – Rostislav Pevtsov (AZE) – 52:06
3rd – Grant Sheldon (GBR) – 52:20
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13th – Aaron Harris (GBR) – 52:58
18th – David Bishop (GBR) – 53:31
23rd – Liam Lloyd (GBR) – 53:48
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Setting the pace through the opening 750m swim and then simply riding away from the entire field over the 20km bike leg, the British duo had established a lead of well over a minute and a half before hitting the run course, leaving the large chase pack with no chance to catch them. It was then a sprint finish to decide the victor with Lucy Hall just getting the better of Jessica Learmonth.
Advertisement
It has been a successful year for Hall and this title adds to her winning the ETU World Cup race in Spain last month
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
Bronze medallist Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) was still 43 seconds behind Learmonth at the finish.
In the elite men’s race followed home favourite and Rio-bound Vincent Luis (FRA) took gold, while Rostislav Pevtsov (AZE) took silver, and GB’s Grant Sheldon won bronze very tight battle for the final podium position and the Bronze medal.
Châteauroux ETU Sprint Triathlon European Championships
750m / 20km / 5km
Elite Women
1st – Lucy Hall (GBR) – 57:48
2nd – Jessica Learmonth (GBR) – 57:49
3rd – Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) – 58:32
9th – Heather Sellars (GBR) – 59:10
Elite Men
1st – Vincent Luis (FRA) – 51:59
2nd – Rostislav Pevtsov (AZE) – 52:06
3rd – Grant Sheldon (GBR) – 52:20
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13th – Aaron Harris (GBR) – 52:58
18th – David Bishop (GBR) – 53:31
23rd – Liam Lloyd (GBR) – 53:48
The 2015 UK Ironman champion David McNamee has won the pro men’s race at the inaugural Challenge Galway in Ireland, in a time of 3:51:47, with fellow Brit Joe Skipper taking second in a time of 3:55:11. While in the pro women’s race Emma Bilham from Switzerland took gold in a time of 4:16:35 followed by 220 columnist and winner of Ironman 70.3 Staffs Brit Lucy Gossage in a time of 4:22:09 and Laura Siddall came in third in 4:27:41
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As well as these two elite races, there were a special TryaTri race, a sprint, olympic, as well as the Full and Half Iron distance events, attracting nearly 25,000 people to Galway.
As well as the triathlons Challenge Galway in association with Monroes Live hosted Rock The Docks with headline acts The Riptide Movement and The Strypes rocking out to large crowds on Friday and Saturday night.
“This was the first year for Challenge Galway and we are very pleased with how the event ran. It was a massive undertaking, which could not have been possible without a very strong team on the ground and major support from Galway City and County Council, Failte Ireland and the Gardai. The expo village and festival element was so well received by both athletes and people attending Challenge Galway. We are hoping that our first year will give merit to this being an annual event for Galway and the west,” said Liam Heavin of Challenge Galway.
Images courtesy of Clearskiesahead.com
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David McNamee on tackling Ironman
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The 2015 UK Ironman champion David McNamee has won the pro men’s race at the inaugural Challenge Galway in Ireland, in a time of 3:51:47, with fellow Brit Joe Skipper taking second in a time of 3:55:11. While in the pro women’s race Emma Bilham from Switzerland took gold in a time of 4:16:35 followed by 220 columnist and winner of Ironman 70.3 Staffs Brit Lucy Gossage in a time of 4:22:09 and Laura Siddall came in third in 4:27:41
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As well as these two elite races, there were a special TryaTri race, a sprint, olympic, as well as the Full and Half Iron distance events, attracting nearly 25,000 people to Galway.
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
As well as the triathlons Challenge Galway in association with Monroes Live hosted Rock The Docks with headline acts The Riptide Movement and The Strypes rocking out to large crowds on Friday and Saturday night.
“This was the first year for Challenge Galway and we are very pleased with how the event ran. It was a massive undertaking, which could not have been possible without a very strong team on the ground and major support from Galway City and County Council, Failte Ireland and the Gardai. The expo village and festival element was so well received by both athletes and people attending Challenge Galway. We are hoping that our first year will give merit to this being an annual event for Galway and the west,” said Liam Heavin of Challenge Galway.
Images courtesy of Clearskiesahead.com
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Related
David McNamee on tackling Ironman
Rugby legend Austin Healey, who earned 51 England caps during his career, is to take part in the Leader Board team relay triathlon on 3 July at Eton Dorney in Berkshire and raise money for Sport Relief. He will be taking the bike leg, while two of his daughters will be taking on the swim and run legs.
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“The girls are very sporty and I reckon we will have a pretty good chance of finishing quite high up,” he says. “My daughters are quite competitive, and they are saying ‘Dad you had better not let us down on the bike’. If I could choose any sport for them to be of a high standard in it would be triathlon. I can see it being an even bigger sport in seven years when they are ready to compete.
The relay consists of six laps of the course, and each lap consists of a 200m swim leg, a 5.3km cycle leg and a 1.5km run leg.
Austin has always been a keen follower of triathlon and in the past he has competed in about five triathlons, including Blenheim, which he completed the sprint distance in about an hour.
However injuries on the rugby field left him in almost constant pain, and included a shoulder problem that has resulted with a spike instead of a ball in the shoulder socket, an arthritic knee, and bad back.
He was left frustrated trying everything he could, supplements, yoga, ginger tea and was left relying on painkillers.
“The thing that has made the biggest difference is GoPo Joint Health [a rosehip joint supplement]. It might not suit everybody but it might suit someone. I tried everything.
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“With GoPo the pain is suddenly not there and the joints are not restricted. You can then start exercising better and then it becomes collective. GoPo gives you the ability to get to the start line and you can then start to help yourself to get better. It’s not going to do it by itself. You have to get yourself moving.
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GOPO® is an active compound derived from rosehips with natural anti inflammatory properties. GOPO® is found only in GOPO® Joint Health capsules, £18.49 for 120 capsules from supermarkets and pharmacies nationwide, www.gopo.co.uk. For more information on osteoarthritis please visit www.patient.info/jointpainhub