Studies prove that position of belly button enhances athletic ability for different sports.
By: Taren Vaughan
It is blatantly obvious that when it comes to sports, some people have the upper hand. Having more muscle mass and height can determine how well an athlete performs. Sometimes even gender differences can determine how athletically capable one is. But did you ever think that your belly button could make you run farther or swim faster? As hard as it is to believe, the type of belly button that you have can have a huge impact on your athletic performance.
Now before you let your mind wonder too far, it’s not exactly about what type of belly button that you have. But it is more so about how it is positioned on your body.
According to a study that was published in the International Journal of Design and Nature and Ecodynamics, researchers found that where a person’s navel lies can determine how good of a swimmer or runner they have the potential to be. Duke University professor Andre Bejan noted why there is such a significant difference between West African runners and European runners:
“It so happens that in the architecture of the human body of West African-origin runners, the center of gravity is significantly higher than in runners of European origin,” which puts them at an advantage in sprints on the track.”
This stat deems to be fairly accurate. We all know which race tends to dominate when it comes to track and field events. For decades, both Africans and African Americans have surpassed runners of other races, winning gold medals and doing so at record-beating times. So there is not much of a secret there. Bejan also went on to discuss the differences in swimmers:
“The swimmer who makes the bigger wave is the faster swimmer, and a longer torso makes a bigger wave. Europeans have a three-percent longer torso than West Africans, which gives them a 1.5-percent speed advantage in the pool,”
Who would have thought that such a small part of your body can refine your breast stroke?
Of course maintaining a healthy body weight and working out on a routine basis can increase an athlete’s physical drive. But if your body is composed in certain way, there is only so much that it will allow you to do.
