Athletic Ability Nature or Nurture?

As science evolves scientists have now a better picture of pretty much everything. Scientists have developed a still unsolved controversial argument: is athletic ability nature (in your genes) or nurtured (environmental). There is evidence on both sides of the argument but a solution is still unknown. I believe it is mostly nurtured because you have to constantly practice to achieve what you want. 

Lionel Messi one of the best players of the world, had growing problems, short size and had to be held to medical help since little. Now he is the top player on the world and do not have physical advantage from other players because of his size and contexture, this in modern soccer is difficult because of the continuos struggles throughout the game that result mostly in adversity to small size people. But the other side of the controverse say that by being small Messi's has a smaller center of gravity and that allows him to make more maneuvers with the ball. Therefore I think Lionel Messi was both a "born" and "nurtured" super soccer player but through practice and perseverance he is now a superstar in soccer. Another example of this is Spain national soccer team, Spain is not known for being physically gifted the male popuation in Spain has an average of 1'75 meters tall. In modern day soccer strong and tall mostly overcome. But through perseverance and proper training since a young age Spain could develop a strong team and won the most prestigious tournament in soccer the World Cup.

Genetics determine strength, height, muscle size, lung capacity, flexibility, V02 Max flexibility and endurance basketball players give validity to this statement.   Most of the basketball have the characteristics of being tall, strong, fast and agile. Most of the basketball player surpass the height of 6"4 and many  people ask: Would he had become a NBA player with 6" feet tall? The answer is probably no. In a sport like basketball you have to be tall to succeed the taller you are the closer to the basket and you can score more easily.  An especific example in NBA is LeBron James, he has all the characteristics above, and many people may think he is a "natural" basketball player, and the he has also has an incredible athletic ability he said he can perfectly play american football. An example of all-stars that are believed to be a genetically gifted athletes are both Kobe Bryant and father Joe Bryant who used to play in the NBA.  Another example of a supposedly genetically gifted athlete is Lance Armstrong through tests he is determined to have one of the greatest V02 Max readings ever seen. This characteristic helped him to become the best cyclist ever seen. 

In conclusion, through research I believe that both nature and nurture have a say in a athlete. Even though by practice you can probably become and incredible athlete, it is true you need physical characteristics that will help you in your particular sport, like height in basketball. I believe that even though you need both nature and nurture you need more perseverance that natural characteristics like Lionel Messi, and think an athlete is influenced 60% nurtured because you need to practice hard and 40% nature because you need to have physical characteristics that help you. I had a good time researching about whether athletic ability is nature or nurture, because it is very controversial and interesting.

  

    

http://www.ine.es/revistas/estaespa/101_8.pdf

http://expertfootball.com/training/naturevsnurture.php

http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/sports/photos/2009/04/05/messi-leo090405getty.jpg

http://stupidcelebrities.net/wp-content/lebron-james_photos.jpg

http://www.checkoutmycards.com/CardImages/Cards/078/391/08F.jpg

http://www.byjamesraia.com/content_images/2/Lance.jpg