Modern Olympic Athletes Are Bigger, Stronger And Far, Far More Specialized

There was a time, not so long ago, when Olympic athletes of all types, from runners to jumpers to skiers and shooters looked much more alike. A fit “average” person, says ASAP Science in the video above, was the ideal form, Jacks- and Jills-of-all-trades ready to conquer both track and field.

Over time, Olympic-caliber athletes have grown more specialized—basketball players are getting taller, ski jumpers thinner, weightlifters bulkier. At MyModernMet, they've got a side-by-side comparison, a series of photos of Olympic athletes of all shapes and sizes photographed by Howard Schatz.

The video above is just one of a series, a partnership between ASAP Science and the Canadian Broadcasting Company, exploring the science behind the Olympics.

Colin Schultz | | READ MORE

Colin Schultz is a freelance science writer and editor based in Toronto, Canada. He blogs for Smart News and contributes to the American Geophysical Union. He has a B.Sc. in physical science and philosophy, and a M.A. in journalism.