Could East Africans dominate Triathlon

TriMar wrote:

If they had the training surely they would win every Ironman?

No, because they lack the ability to swim. Most Africans do not know how to swim, and it is because of the superstitions that they were taught about the water. The same thing goes for Africans in the carribeans. It would take years of mental and physical training to turn them into swimmers, probably even decades.

However, with cycling and running, they would definitely dominate with the proper training. Those are high endurance sports, and there are already great african riders out of Eritrea.

( I'm black btw, and I have solid swimming ability).

^ This is true actually. Borderline racial stereotyping, but a friend who works in marketing told me that in the marketing universe, black people in Africa, the US and the rest of the Americas and Caribbean (with a few exceptions) are reputed to share a fear of waterbodies, fear of dogs and partiality to grape or berry flavoured sodas. I personally love dogs and the water, but he could back his assertions with studies.

Why do some people on LRC have this stupid idea that East Africans would dominate every endurance sport if they tried just because they dominate running?

You might as well say that Norwegians would dominate running if they did that instead of XC skiing.

Ummmm...ever heard of Jakob Ingebrigtsen?

well,, wrote:

Why do some people on LRC have this stupid idea that East Africans would dominate every endurance sport if they tried just because they dominate running?

You might as well say that Norwegians would dominate running if they did that instead of XC skiing.

well,, wrote:

You might as well say that Norwegians would dominate running if they did that instead of XC skiing.

I have a feeling that on a per capita basis, Norway will win more global distance running medals over the next decade than any other country.

well,, wrote:

Why do some people on LRC have this stupid idea that East Africans would dominate every endurance sport if they tried just because they dominate running?

You might as well say that Norwegians would dominate running if they did that instead of XC skiing.

No, because nobody does XC skiing. The reverse is true. If other countries participated in XC skiing, Norway would not dominate.

Caribbeans can swim very well.

East Africans have no formal training — but yes, with formal training they could dominate tris.

Ghhg wrote:

well,, wrote:

Why do some people on LRC have this stupid idea that East Africans would dominate every endurance sport if they tried just because they dominate running?

You might as well say that Norwegians would dominate running if they did that instead of XC skiing.

No, because nobody does XC skiing. The reverse is true. If other countries participated in XC skiing, Norway would not dominate.

Caribbeans can swim very well.

East Africans have no formal training — but yes, with formal training they could dominate tris.

1) NO, nobody does running either.

2) It is well known the east Africans were able to win more running events in the past 20 years due to other countries' lack of interest and east African uncontrolled doping. If not for that, they would not be dominating anything.

3) true, east Africans swim poorly.

4) However, they also cycle poorly. They don't have the strength AND endurance necessary. Legs are frail.

5) So while they may never even get a top 10 position in the triathlon (no way in Ironman), they may continue getting some top positions in running, even though their days are numbered there too. You can see the difference already in the 1500 where there used to be many more in the top 20.

Jump to 10,40:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8COaMKbNrX0&frags=pl%2Cwn

well,, wrote:

Why do some people on LRC have this stupid idea that East Africans would dominate every endurance sport if they tried just because they dominate running?

It´s because the skinny distance runner geeks like to think that their sport heroes are some sort of superior physical specimens rather than people that the average person laugh at.

Africa has endured centuries of invasions and interference at the hands of white imperialists. These marauding salivating enslaving thieving racist brutes can't stand the idea that disadvantaged Africans are still superior and would kick their self-entitled asses at every physical endeavor.

Or, the flying Finns?

skeller15 wrote:

Ummmm...ever heard of Jakob Ingebrigtsen?

well,, wrote:

Why do some people on LRC have this stupid idea that East Africans would dominate every endurance sport if they tried just because they dominate running?

You might as well say that Scandinavia would dominate running if they did that instead of XC skiing.

Swimming is in the triathlon only for the reason of element the possibility of Uber skinny distance runners type . It’s a small percentage of the race but requires upper body muscle .

History hides the lies wrote:

Africa has endured centuries of invasions and interference at the hands of white imperialists. These marauding salivating enslaving thieving racist brutes can't stand the idea that disadvantaged Africans are still superior and would kick their self-entitled asses at every physical endeavor.

How about cross fit, would they dominate that sport?

well,, wrote:

Jump to 10,40:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8COaMKbNrX0&frags=pl%2Cwn

Speaking to this. The ideal ironman triathlete body is about 160 lbs and 6ft tall. Having overly long legs is a major disadvantage on the swim. You have to have enough muscle to swim well and be big enough to have a high power to cda ratio on the bike. The classic runners body will not work very well across the other two sports.

It has been tried before, a coach tried to get a bunch of fast Kenyans in to triathlon, it was much talked about but in the end they had marginal success. Learning to swim is hard and they were not big enough to bike fast in a flat TT.

In general, the other barriers are lack of swimming culture, access to pools, lack of biking culture, and that triathlon in general is super expensive.

In short, no.

Scorpion_runner wrote:

TriMar wrote:

If they had the training surely they would win every Ironman?

No, because they lack the ability to swim. Most Africans do not know how to swim, and it is because of the superstitions that they were taught about the water. The same thing goes for Africans in the carribeans. It would take years of mental and physical training to turn them into swimmers, probably even decades.

However, with cycling and running, they would definitely dominate with the proper training. Those are high endurance sports, and there are already great african riders out of Eritrea.

( I'm black btw, and I have solid swimming ability).

Swimming at an elite level takes months and years of hard work but learning how to swim isn't that complicated. I have seen many Somalis and Somali-Americans swim very well. I cannot image there is a reason Somalis can swim and others from east Africa would have issues in water.

poor lil baby whaa wrote:

History hides the lies wrote:

Africa has endured centuries of invasions and interference at the hands of white imperialists. These marauding salivating enslaving thieving racist brutes can't stand the idea that disadvantaged Africans are still superior and would kick their self-entitled asses at every physical endeavor.

How come those same white imperialists are dominating 90% of sport that exist today? Especially the most most important....power sports? That's why you can't win a war. You need brain power as well as muscle power. Back to your primitive cave now you savage.

Did you see the complexions of the French World-Cup winning football (soccer) team? Suck it down..

ironside wrote:

Scorpion_runner wrote:

No, because they lack the ability to swim. Most Africans do not know how to swim, and it is because of the superstitions that they were taught about the water. The same thing goes for Africans in the carribeans. It would take years of mental and physical training to turn them into swimmers, probably even decades.

However, with cycling and running, they would definitely dominate with the proper training. Those are high endurance sports, and there are already great african riders out of Eritrea.

( I'm black btw, and I have solid swimming ability).

Swimming at an elite level takes months and years of hard work but learning how to swim isn't that complicated. I have seen many Somalis and Somali-Americans swim very well. I cannot image there is a reason Somalis can swim and others from east Africa would have issues in water.

Do you know how many africans drown per year? Africa has the highest drown rate than any other region in the world.

So it is not that simple, especially when it is not in your culture, and you have been programmed to FEAR the water. There was an episode on youtube, where a grassroots swim organization went to the carribeans to teach islanders how to swim. It didn't go well at all, and this was after months of teaching. What they discovered was the islanders had a huge mental barrier regarding water, especially OPEN WATER.

Somalians have a culture of raiding and pirating ships, so they don't fear water, and are well trained when it comes open water tactics.

It's not about what you can and cannot imagine. It is about what is reality.

Running: Yes

Cycling: Maybe

Swimming: No

East African genetics tend to produce extremely lean, light, and lanky athletes- perfect for distance running.

However, for cycling, a slightly different physique is required- a little more lower-body strength and mass compared to running, but still lean and skinny up top (ie: Chris Froome).

True, some Africans have been able to make it pro, but these are mostly climbers, who tend to be lighter, whereas the cycling stages of most Triathlons are usually more like time-trial courses (better-suited to more muscular riders) than ascending the Alp d’huez.

Finally, swimmers need even more muscle and, crucially, upper-body strength.

As a result, the ideal physique of a triathlete is far more muscular and powerful than that of most East Africans, meaning that I can’t see them dominating triathlon, even with the same training as European/American athletes.

ProbsNotG wrote:

Running: Yes

Cycling: Maybe

Swimming: No

East African genetics tend to produce extremely lean, light, and lanky athletes- perfect for distance running.

However, for cycling, a slightly different physique is required- a little more lower-body strength and mass compared to running, but still lean and skinny up top (ie: Chris Froome).

True, some Africans have been able to make it pro, but these are mostly climbers, who tend to be lighter, whereas the cycling stages of most Triathlons are usually more like time-trial courses (better-suited to more muscular riders) than ascending the Alp d’huez.

Finally, swimmers need even more muscle and, crucially, upper-body strength.

As a result, the ideal physique of a triathlete is far more muscular and powerful than that of most East Africans, meaning that I can’t see them dominating triathlon, even with the same training as European/American athletes.

With the same doping program and (most importantly!) clinical supervision to avoid detection, one could see them doing as well as the Brownlea brothers, for example.