Why is it A BIG DEAL the Jeremy Wariner is white?

Hey now, you watch who you're calling an idiortr.

I'm going to agree with that. Runner's World magazine did a thing in the 80's on why African and African-American runners seem to dominate. I'm not sure why it is, I just accept it. And by the way, I'm a skinny white kid (5'11, 132), and people are suprised when I win in the 400m, and the 200m for that matter.

My view is success is determined by a mixture of hard work and genetics. African Americans that survived the trip from West Africa to the United States during the Colonial Period had a greater physical capacity than those who did not survive the harsh physical conditions of the slave era. However, greater capacity to survive cross-Atlantic travel does not imply selection for a running gene. Successful running comes down to hard work AND good genetic composition. Long legs and glute strength are found in all races. It is my contention that race has nothing to do with success in sprints or otherwise. In fact, it is the mind frame that white people have that makes them less successful. By psychologically forming the impossible ideal of the \"black sprinter,\" many whites convince themselves they are at a genetic disadvantage. In reality, their minds are the limiting factor. There ARE studies which link mental perception to performance. Many whites see themselves as inferior to blacks in the sprints, and the outcome is that they are. Many blacks see themselves as inferior to whites when taking tests such as the SATs, and the outcome is that they are. Granted, there are socio-economic pressures that influence this. Wealthy people rarely see sports as a way to gain financial security, while poorer people see sports as the ticket to a better life. Many of the worlds best athletes come from poor socio-economic situations. In the US, UK, and Canada, many of these people are black. This explains reliance upon sports in the black community, including track, as a livelyhood. Furthermore, it is uncommon to see someone from a wealthy background pursue athletics as a career. Wealthy people are more priviledged, have better access to education, and don\'t have to physically exert themselves to live well. We must ask: What messages are we told from a young age? What do we really feel? Jeremy Wariner was never told he couldn\'t win the Olympics. He knew he was fast. And he knew he could get faster. He felt that people of all races were his equals and the races he competed in would come down to who had put in the most work and who had the most heart. For all you people out there who look to explain black and white, its about what we are told, but more importantly what we believe. I choose to believe in the possibility of human achievement and the indominable human spirit. I hope everyone out there feels the same. Props to Wariner for not believing in the garbage we are fed everyday to justify weak spirit. And props to all the black and white athletes who succeed at what they do.

My view is success is determined by a mixture of hard work and genetics. African Americans that survived the trip from West Africa to the United States during the Colonial Period had a greater physical capacity than those who did not survive the harsh physical conditions of the slave era. However, greater capacity to survive cross-Atlantic travel does not imply selection for a running gene. Successful running comes down to hard work AND good genetic composition. Long legs and glute strength are found in all races. It is my contention that race has nothing to do with success in sprints or otherwise. In fact, it is the mind frame that white people have that makes them less successful. By psychologically forming the impossible ideal of the "black sprinter," many whites convince themselves they are at a genetic disadvantage. In reality, their minds are the limiting factor. There ARE studies which link mental perception to performance. Many whites see themselves as inferior to blacks in the sprints, and the outcome is that they are. Many blacks see themselves as inferior to whites when taking tests such as the SATs, and the outcome is that they are. Granted, there are socio-economic pressures that influence this. Wealthy people rarely see sports as a way to gain financial security, while poorer people see sports as the ticket to a better life. Many of the worlds best athletes come from poor socio-economic situations. In the US, UK, and Canada, many of these people are black. This explains reliance upon sports in the black community, including track, as a livelyhood. Furthermore, it is uncommon to see someone from a wealthy background pursue athletics as a career. Wealthy people are more priviledged, have better access to education, and don't have to physically exert themselves to live well. We must ask: What messages are we told from a young age? What do we really feel? Jeremy Wariner was never told he couldn't win the Olympics. He knew he was fast. And he knew he could get faster. He felt that people of all races were his equals and the races he competed in would come down to who had put in the most work and who had the most heart. For all you people out there who look to explain black and white, its about what we are told, but more importantly what we believe. I choose to believe in the possibility of human achievement and the indominable human spirit. I hope everyone out there feels the same. Props to Wariner for not believing in the garbage we are fed everyday to justify weak spirit. And props to all the black and white athletes who succeed at what they do.

need wrote:

I think that west african descent have, in general, more powerfull fibers in their muscles and less fat. This help

to practise track and field speed.

Actually whites have more 'power fibers' in their muscles. Blacks have more of the fast twitch fibers - on average - that determine speed. Whites dominate strength events in the way blacks dominate sprints. The odd black strength champ is as noticeable as the odd white sprint champ.

Vipam wrote:

Jeremey Wariner is an American and the medal goes to him and counts for the American's total in the medal count not just the white Americans. I don't want to hear that its unusually that a white guy wins the 400m, yes that may be true but why is it important? The fact that he is an American who brought home gold is more important than his race, it seems that NUMEROUS of you would be less impressed if Otis Harris or Derrick Brew won the gold? It seems to me that many of you are displaying borderline racisit view points in my opinion!!!

VIPAM

true, it shouldnt be a big deal.

but it is, because the americans that we are used to seeing run that fast are african american; not of some type of caucasian race.

I am a caucasian male who ran the 200 m, 400 m, and 800 m runs in high school and agree that there is a stereotype that white sprinters are inferior to african-american sprinters. As I was from the same state as Kevin Little, I remember when he won the Iowa 400 m dash state title in 1986 and the eye brows that were raised when he beat alot of very fast african-american 400 m runners, one from my high school who won state the next year. Interestingly, the same kind of eye brow raising occurred when Tim Dwight won all the Iowa state sprint titles (100 m, 200 m, 400 m) around 1994. When I went to college and ran for a Big 8 (now Big XII) university where I ran the 800 m, 1500 m, and 3000 m runs, we had two white 400 m sprinters (Tamas Molnar and Jerry Marsee) on our 1,600 m relay team that took 2nd in 1990 NCAA outdoor meet to Baylor's team (Michael Johnson was on that relay team), one of which won the Big 8 400 m title. What I am trying to say is that there are several examples of top notch white sprinters, but none have reached the level of success as Jermey Wariner. I think he is significant because he breaks stereotypes and racial barriers (similar to Tiger Woods in golf or the Williams sisters in tennis). Obviously, he has talent, but his drive and hard work while in Baylor's excellent sprint program under Clyde Hart is what made him who he currently is. I hope he obtains all the goals he sets forth for himself (e.g. breaks the 400 m world record), but, in my opinion, he has already exemplied himself as a inspiration and true champion since he persevered despite stereotypes and has done so without the use of steroids or enhancing drugs. Track and field, like other notable sports [e.g. cycling, baseball, football) that has been affected steroids or drug doping recently, needs more examples like Jeremy Wariner.

Regarding racial and cultural stereotypes and athletics, certain genotype-phenotypes (e.g. west African sprinters, east African distance runners, Australian swimmers, Canadian or Russian hockey players, Brazilian soccer players) appear to dominant specific sports or events. However, the diversity and normal mutation rate of the human genome shows that talented athletes can also come from non-traditional races or cultural regions of World.

It is a big deal because it is a lie he is half black you white people know he is way to dark to be one of you guys okay he looks black so that means he is us black people know when someone has black in them so if you want to believe he is white then go on and believe it okay alright and don't give me oh why can't a white guy run okay we all know the truth and that is all i have to say

You obviously ignorant of boxing in the 21 st century , numbnuts. Whites dominate the heavyweight ranks, and hold the titles at light heavy, and supermiddleweight. SO wake up, its not the 1970-90\'s anymore.

I came across this forum when googling Jeremy Wariner and noticed something really funny. Some guy said, in all this racial discussion, that people would be equally amazed if a black man became president as a strong white runner I think. Well, there you go.