Name: Are athletes really getting faster, better, stronger?
Uploaded: 2014-04-29T14:59:23Z
Duration: 14 min 39 s
Description: When you look at sporting achievements over the last decades, it seems like humans have gotten faster, better and stronger in nearly every way. Yet as David Epstein points out in this delightfully counter-intuitive talk, we might want to lay off the self-congratulation. Many factors are at play in shattering athletic records, and the development of our natural talents is just one of them.

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I meant to say “per year,” not “per decade.” That was just a verbal mistake, and I didn’t even realize I’d made it until I saw the video later. Really in the moment! 

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David Epstein: Are athletes really getting faster, better, stronger?

Are athletes really getting faster, better, stronger?

When you look at sporting achievements over the last decades, it seems like humans have gotten faster, better and stronger in nearly every way. Yet as David Epstein points out in this delightfully counter-intuitive talk, we might want to lay off the self-congratulation. Many factors are at play in shattering athletic records, and the development of our natural talents is just one of them.

Athletes today seem to defy limits, but human evolution tells only part of the story. A 2012 Olympic marathoner would have beaten the 1904 champion by nearly ninety minutes, yet advances like synthetic tracks and aerodynamically engineered bikes explain much of this leap. Specialized body types, global talent pools, and smarter training have further fueled performance gains. Shifting beliefs about what the body can achieve, not just natural talent, have pushed athletes to new heights.