Would you consider a sport where, due to random genetics, only 7% of the population could get really good at it?

the US will sometimes have like dozens of guys as good or better than whole countries' best. like we will have cut off trials at times tenths before people who run in olympic qualifying heats in the 100m. we then perversely talk about genetics and stuff.

does genetics really explain that? yeah, some of us are naturally faster, but that doesn't explain dozens of high level runners at some events.

to me if most of the rest of the world is a few seconds/tenths back at something more prosaic, "that's genetics." that's where what god gives you leaves less funded, less well coached athletes with the most talent in their country.

no, that few more seconds or tenths is actually culture, the high level of participation, intense competition, decent coaching. like argentines at soccer.

last, most kids start something at like 5-10 years old and no one has a clue then who has been gifted and who will be elite. if you end up playing baseball so what about your potential track speed. if you come across a stupid coach with bad training plans your career may be over. it's not as simple as talent = win.

i personally felt like there was a racial thing in what distance multitalented kids got nudged towards, and a height thing on hurdles, even the low ones.

Why would the national team prioritize height? Because height matters in volleyball. The PVF will have shorter girls because they need to fill out rosters. Indy Ignite is a mediocre team. Omaha and Atlanta have much taller players and are the best teams in the league.

I mentioned the importance of height in volleyball because you can play "small ball" in basketball and have some success but a short team in volleyball will not be successful. Again, the reason why our women's national team prioritizes height.

You don't need a survey to quantify this. Just go to any HS track meet and you'll see 8 to 12 heats of 100s, 200s, 1600s where all except the two fast sheets have athletes that are woefully slow. In the 3200s you'll have two hours of boys and girls heats that together comprises a total of four races! ...In HS varsity or even jv soccer, football, lacrosse, basketball, baseball etc. you won't have a bunch of "participants" competing because these sports have cuts that wean the athletic from the non athletic.

As far as aerobic athleticism is concerned, there are no surveys or statistics to back it up but just ask any HS xc coach if he thinks he has the best athletes from the school on his team. Almost always, you would get an answer that no, he would like to have athlete x,y, or z from the soccer basketball or football team.

As far as the number of kids that avoid running period let alone running for distance...that's just a fact! Kids don't like to be uncomfortable and running distance hurts and it's inherently not as fun as ball sports. ...The kids (and adults) that can tolerate it aren't necessarily the ones that are the most naturally talented. They're just the one's who are mentally tougher for being uncomfortable or, very commonly, aren't very good at other sports. Again, just watch the HS 3200s to witness this.

I love XC and distance T&F... but i also know that the best athletes don't always gravitate to these sports.

Omaha's best player is 5-10 OH Nuneviller, who is an excellent defensive player. She has already made the national team debut and could possibly make the 2028 Olympic team.

You can also play "small ball" in volleyball. Some countries have done it out of necessity for many years. Or sometimes you find outstanding player like Gabi. (I don't think Brazil lacks tall outside hitters. Gabi is simply better than all of them.)

The amount of mitochondria and the Type 1 & 2 fiber make up in your muscles will decide how good of a distance runner one can become. To make a national championship, the upper 7% is probably a minimum.