F E A T U R E
LASS ATHLETES DNA ’?
Do athletes have ‘ super DNA ’ or are they just like us ? With a deep dive into the genetics of more than 15 world-class athletes , Ancestry has some answers .
The comprehensive DNA compare analysis utilises DNA results from US fan-favourite athletes including Gabby Douglas , Nastia Liukin , Jackie Joyner-Kersee , Michael Johnson , Bradley Snyder , Kerri Walsh-Jennings and more .
New research found :
• Mental toughness may be one of the most important factors in athletic success . AncestryDNA Traits showing likeliness to be competitive ( 88 %) and have selfconfidence ( 69 %) showed up in the majority of champion athletes ’ DNA .
• Many of the athletes were born with traits that naturally enhance their performance . For example , all gymnasts studied were more likely to have physical flexibility , 83 % of the track and field athletes were more likely to be sprinters than endurance runners and 60 % of the swimmers were more likely to be able to hold their breath for a long time .
• However , the journey to becoming an elite athlete isn ’ t purely genetic . Surprisingly , 60 % of the athletes were unlikely to have natural athleticism , underscoring the importance of
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