ABOUT THE SPEAKER

David Epstein - Sports science reporter
David Epstein is an investigative reporter who covers the wide-open space where sports, science and medicine overlap.

Why you should listen

David Epstein writes about the developing science around sport -- from performance-enhancing drugs to the lucky genetics that separate a professional athlete from a duffer. A science writer and longtime contributor to Sports Illustrated, he's helped break stories on steroids in baseball, fraudulently marketed health remedies, and big-money irregularities in "amateur" college football. In 2007, inspired by the death of a childhood friend, he wrote a moving exploration of the most common cause of sudden death in young athletes, a hard-to-diagnose heart irregularity known as HCM.

Now an investigative reporter at ProPublica, Epstein is the author of The Sports Gene, a book that explores the complex factors that make up a championship athlete. Is there such a thing as natural greatness, or can even extreme skills -- like the freaky-fast reaction of a hockey great -- be learned? Conversely, is the desire and will to master extreme skills something you're born with?

More profile about the speaker
David Epstein | Speaker | TED.com

TED2014

David Epstein: Are athletes really getting faster, better, stronger?

David Epstein: A jane duke u bere atletet me te shpejte, me te mire, me te forte?

Filmed: 2014-03-20

Readability: 4.7

8,652,776 views

Kur ju shikoni në arritjet sportive gjatë dekadave të fundit, duket sikur njerëzit jane bere më të shpejtë, më të mirë dhe më të fortë në pothuajse çdo mënyrë. Megjithatë, si David Epstein thekson në këtë bisedë delightfully kundër-intuitive, ne mund të dëshironi të lë të qetë vetë-urim. Shumë faktorë janë në lojë në shkatërrimtar të dhënat atletike, dhe zhvillimin e talenteve tona natyrore është vetëm një prej tyre

David Epstein - Sports science reporter
David Epstein is an investigative reporter who covers the wide-open space where sports, science and medicine overlap. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:13

The Olympic motto is "Citius, Altius, Fortius."

0

950

3131

Moto e lojerave Olimpike eshte "Citius, Altius, Fortius"

00:16

Faster, Higher, Stronger.

1

4081

2769

Me shpejte, me larte, me forte.

00:19

And athletes have fulfilled that motto rapidly.

2

6850

3940

Dhe atletet kane permbushur ate moto shume shpejt

00:22

The winner of the 2012 Olympic marathon

3

10790

3156

Fituesi i maratones Oplimpike te 2012

00:26

ran two hours and eight minutes.

4

13946

2316

vrapoi dy ore e tete minuta.

00:28

Had he been racing against the winner

5

16262

1620

Ne do ishte duke garuar kunder fituesit

00:30

of the 1904 Olympic marathon,

6

17882

2466

te maratones Olimpike te vitit 1904,

00:32

he would have won by nearly an hour and a half.

7

20348

3333

ai do te kishte fituar me afer nje ore e gjysme.

00:35

Now we all have this feeling

8

23681

1772

Tani te gjithe ne e kemi kete ndjenje

00:37

that we're somehow just getting better

9

25453

1590

se jemi duke u bere me te mire

00:39

as a human race, inexorably progressing,

10

27043

2340

si qenie njerzore, duke perparuar ne menyre te pandalshme

00:41

but it's not like we've evolved into a new species

11

29383

2141

por nuk eshte se kemi evoluar ne qenie te reja

00:43

in a century.

12

31524

1466

brenda nje shekulli.

00:45

So what's going on here?

13

32990

2608

Pra, cka po ndodh ketu?

00:47

I want to take a look at what's really behind

14

35598

1361

Dua te shikoj se c'fshihet pertej ketij

00:49

this march of athletic progress.

15

36959

2690

marshimi te zhvillimit te atletikes.

00:51

In 1936, Jesse Owens

16

39649

2297

Ne 1936, Jesse Owens

00:54

held the world record in the 100 meters.

17

41946

2337

mbajti rekordin botëror në 100 metra.

00:56

Had Jesse Owens been racing last year

18

44283

2707

Nese do merrte pjese ne kampionatin boteror vitin e kaluar 100 metersh

00:59

in the world championships of the 100 meters,

19

46990

2446

ne garen e 100 metershit,

01:01

when Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt finished,

20

49436

2474

kur sprinteri xhamaikan Usain Bolt e perfundoi,

01:04

Owens would have still had 14 feet to go.

21

51910

3408

Owrns kishte akoma 14 hapa per te vrapuar.

01:07

That's a lot in sprinter land.

22

55318

1879

Kjo do te thote shume per sprint.

01:09

To give you a sense of how much it is,

23

57197

1503

Per t'ju treguar se sa shume eshte,

01:10

I want to share with you a demonstration

24

58700

1958

une dua te ndaj me ju nje demonstrim

01:12

conceived by sports scientist Ross Tucker.

25

60658

3012

te konceptuar nga sportisti Ross Tucker.

01:15

Now picture the stadium last year

26

63670

2165

Tani, imagjinoni stadiumin vitin qe kaloi

01:18

at the world championships of the 100 meters:

27

65835

2629

ne kampionation boteror te 100 metershit:

01:20

thousands of fans waiting with baited breath

28

68464

2099

mijera fansa duke pritur

01:22

to see Usain Bolt, the fastest man in history;

29

70563

3474

per te pare Usain Bolt, njeriun me te shpejte ne histori;

01:26

flashbulbs popping as the
nine fastest men in the world

30

74037

2875

nente burrat me te shpejte ne bote

01:29

coil themselves into their blocks.

31

76912

2563

rrotullohen ne blloqet e tyre.

01:31

And I want you to pretend

32

79475

1131

Dua qe te pretendoni

01:32

that Jesse Owens is in that race.

33

80606

2339

se Jesse Owens eshte ne ate gare.

01:35

Now close your eyes for a
second and picture the race.

34

82945

3245

Tani mbyllni syte per disa sekonda dhe paraperfytyroni garen.

01:38

Bang! The gun goes off.

35

86190

1692

Krisme! Arma shkrepet.

01:40

An American sprinter jumps out to the front.

36

87882

2068

Nje sprinter Amerikan kercen ne fillim.

01:42

Usain Bolt starts to catch him.

37

89950

1950

Usian Bolt fillon qe ta arrije ate.

01:44

Usain Bolt passes him, and as
the runners come to the finish,

38

91900

1621

Usain Bolt e kalon ate, dhe ndersa vrapuesit mbrrijne te fundi,

01:45

you'll hear a beep as each man crosses the line.

39

93521

2677

ju do te degjoni nje bip ku secili garues kalon nje pjese.

01:48

(Beeps)

40

96198

1677

(Bip)

01:50

That's the entire finish of the race.

41

97875

3105

Kjo eshte pjesa e plote e gares.

01:53

You can open your eyes now.

42

100980

1380

Mund te hapni syte tani.

01:54

That first beep was Usain Bolt.

43

102360

2610

Bip i pare ishte Usain Bolt.

01:57

That last beep was Jesse Owens.

44

104970

2314

Bip i fundit ishte Jesse Owens.

01:59

Listen to it again.

45

107284

2177

Degjoni perseri ate.

02:01

(Beeps)

46

109461

1718

(Bip)

02:03

When you think of it like that,

47

111179

1100

Tek e mendoni keshtu,

02:04

it's not that big a difference, is it?

48

112279

2271

nuk eshte ndonje diference e madhe, apo jo?

02:06

And then consider that Usain Bolt started

49

114550

1857

Dhe duke pasur ne konsiderate se Usain Bolt fillon

02:08

by propelling himself out of blocks

50

116407

2763

duke vene ne levzije veten e tij

02:11

down a specially fabricated carpet

51

119170

2339

poshte nje qilimi posacerisht te fabikuar

02:13

designed to allow him to travel

52

121509

1756

i dizejnuar per te lejuar ate te vrapoj

02:15

as fast as humanly possible.

53

123265

2116

aq shpejt sa njerezisht eshte e mundur.

02:17

Jesse Owens, on the other hand,

54

125381

1671

Jesse Owens ne anen tjeter,

02:19

ran on cinders, the ash from burnt wood,

55

127052

3591

vrapon ne shkrumbë, hi nga druri i djegur,

02:22

and that soft surface stole far more energy

56

130643

2237

dhe ajo siperfaqe e bute i shpenzon shume me shume energji

02:25

from his legs as he ran.

57

132880

1777

kemebeve te tij ndersa vraponte.

02:26

Rather than blocks, Jesse
Owens had a gardening trowel

58

134657

2963

Pervec blloqeve, Jesse Owens kish nje peshqir kopeshti

02:29

that he had to use to dig holes
in the cinders to start from.

59

137620

3827

qe iu desh ta perdorte per te germuar gropa ne menyre qe te niste.

02:33

Biomechanical analysis of the speed

60

141447

2104

Analizat biomekanike te shpejtesise

02:35

of Owens' joints shows that had been running

61

143551

2544

se nyjeve te Owens tregojne se nese do kish qene duke vrapuar

02:38

on the same surface as Bolt,

62

146095

1514

ne te njejten siperfaqe sikurse Bolt,

02:39

he wouldn't have been 14 feet behind,

63

147609

2511

ai nuk do të kishte qenë 14 metra prapa,

02:42

he would have been within one stride.

64

150120

2319

ai do te kishte qene brenda te njejtes vije.

02:44

Rather than the last beep,

65

152439

1742

Ne vend te sinjalit te fundit,

02:46

Owens would have been the second beep.

66

154181

2940

Owens do te kishte qene bipi i dyte.

02:49

Listen to it again.

67

157121

2051

Degjojeni edhe nje here.

02:51

(Beeps)

68

159172

1738

(Bip)

02:53

That's the difference track
surface technology has made,

69

160910

2383

Kjo eshte diferenca qe ka bere tknologjia me pisten,

02:55

and it's done it throughout the running world.

70

163293

2279

dhe eshte e bere ne te gjitha pistat e botes.

02:57

Consider a longer event.

71

165572

1731

Konsideroni nje ngjarje me te gjate.

02:59

In 1954, Sir Roger Bannister

72

167303

2963

Ne 1954, Sir Roger Bannisiter

03:02

became the first man to run
under four minutes in the mile.

73

170266

3177

u be personi i pare i cili vrapoi nen kater minuta per nje milje.

03:05

Nowadays, college kids do that every year.

74

173443

3050

Ditet e sotme, studentet e universitetit e bejne ate cdo vit.

03:08

On rare occasions, a high school kid does it.

75

176493

2553

Ne raste te rralla edhe nje nxnes i shkolles se mesme mund ta beje.

03:11

As of the end of last year,

76

179046

1742

Deri në fund të vitit të kaluar,

03:12

1,314 men

77

180788

2367

1.314 burra

03:15

had run under four minutes in the mile,

78

183155

2215

kishin vrapuar nen kater minuta per milje,

03:17

but like Jesse Owens,

79

185370

1450

por sikur Jesses Owens,

03:19

Sir Roger Bannister ran on soft cinders

80

186820

2742

Sir Roger Bannister vrapoi ne hi te bute

03:21

that stole far more energy from his legs

81

189562

1824

dhe kjo i harxhoi me shume energji kembeve te tij

03:23

than the synthetic tracks of today.

82

191386

2363

sesa bejne pistat sintektike te sotme.

03:25

So I consulted biomechanics experts

83

193749

1500

Keshtu une konsultova ekspertet e biomekanikes

03:27

to find out how much slower it is to run on cinders

84

195249

2564

per te zbuluar sa me ngadale vrapohet ne hi

03:30

than synthetic tracks,

85

197813

1258

sesa ne pista sintetike,

03:31

and their consensus that it's
one and a half percent slower.

86

199071

3400

dhe konsensusi i tyre ishte nje perqind e gjysem me ngadale.

03:34

So if you apply a one and a half
percent slowdown conversion

87

202471

3287

Pra nese aplikoni nje perqind e gjysme te shendrrimit te ngadalshem

03:37

to every man who ran his sub-four mile

88

205758

2186

per secilin person qe vrapon kater milje

03:40

on a synthetic track,

89

207944

1444

ne nje piste sintetike,

03:41

this is what happens.

90

209388

1696

kjo eshte ajo cka ndodh.

03:43

Only 530 are left.

91

211084

2329

Kane mbetur vetem 530.

03:45

If you look at it from that perspective,

92

213413

1397

Nese e shikoni nga kjo perspektive,

03:47

fewer than ten new men per [year]

93

214810

2320

me pak se dhjete ne vit

03:49

have joined the sub-four mile club

94

217130

1483

i jane bashkuar klubit te nen- kater milje

03:50

since Sir Roger Bannister.

95

218613

2302

që nga Sir Roger Bannister.

03:53

Now, 530 is a lot more than one,

96

220915

3067

Tani, 530 eshte me shume sesa nje,

03:56

and that's partly because
there are many more people

97

223982

1516

dhe kjo është pjesërisht për shkak se
ka shumë më shumë njerëz

03:57

training today and they're training more intelligently.

98

225498

2514

qe trajnohen sot dhe jane duke u trajnuar me me inteligjence.

04:00

Even college kids are professional in their training

99

228012

2228

Edhe femijet e koelgjit jane profesionist ne trajnimet e tyre

04:02

compared to Sir Roger Bannister,

100

230240

1526

te krahasuar ndaj Sir Roger Bannister,

04:03

who trained for 45 minutes at a time

101

231766

1459

i cili trajnohej per 45 minuta

04:05

while he ditched gynecology lectures in med school.

102

233225

3090

qe ishte larguar nga leksionet e gjinekologjise ne shkollen e mjeksise.

04:08

And that guy who won the 1904 Olympic marathon

103

236315

2403

Dhe ai djali i cili fitoi maratonen olimpike te 1904

04:10

in three in a half hours,

104

238718

1711

ne tre ore e gjysme,

04:12

that guy was drinking rat poison and brandy

105

240429

2137

ai djale ishte duke pire helm miu dhe raki

04:14

while he ran along the course.

106

242566

2032

pederisa vraponte ne piste.

04:16

That was his idea of a performance-enhancing drug.

107

244598

2623

Kjo ishte idea e performances se tij.

04:19

(Laughter)

108

247221

2063

(Buzeqeshje)

04:21

Clearly, athletes have gotten more savvy

109

249284

1688

Duket qarte, se atletet jane bere me te pjekur sot

04:23

about performance-enhancing drugs as well,

110

250972

2474

rreth ilaceve qe rrisin perfromancen,

04:25

and that's made a difference
in some sports at some times,

111

253446

2271

dhe kjo ka bere ndryshimin
ne disa sporte disa here,

04:27

but technology has made a difference in all sports,

112

255717

2287

por teknologjia ka bere ndryshim ne te gjitha sportet,

04:30

from faster skis to lighter shoes.

113

258004

2549

nga ski me te shpejta tek kepucet e lehta.

04:32

Take a look at the record for
the 100-meter freestyle swim.

114

260553

3140

Hidhni një sy të dhënave për
stilin e lirë not ne 100-metër.

04:35

The record is always trending downward,

115

263693

2647

Rekordi gjithmone eshte duke pesuar renie,

04:38

but it's punctuated by these steep cliffs.

116

266340

2750

por eshte nderprere nga keto shkembinj te thikte.

04:41

This first cliff, in 1956, is the introduction

117

269090

2921

Shkembi i pare, ne 1956, eshte hyrja

04:44

of the flip turn.

118

272011

1229

rrokullisese.

04:45

Rather than stopping and turning around,

119

273240

2029

Ne vend se te ndaleni dhe ktheni,

04:47

athletes could somersault under the water

120

275269

1844

atletet mund te kaperdinje nen uje

04:49

and get going right away in the opposite direction.

121

277113

2518

dhe te shkojne menjehere ne drejtimin e kundert.

04:51

This second cliff, the introduction of gutters

122

279631

2792

Shkembi i dyte, eshte prezantimi i kanalit

04:54

on the side of the pool

123

282423

1532

ne anen tjeter te pishines,

04:56

that allows water to splash off,

124

283955

1557

qe e lejon ujin te sperkat,

04:57

rather than becoming turbulence

125

285512

1287

ne vend se te bej turbulenca

04:58

that impedes the swimmers as they race.

126

286799

2247

qe ti pengonte notuesit ndersa garojne.

05:01

This final cliff,

127

289046

1639

Ky shkemb i fundit,

05:02

the introduction of full-body

128

290685

1186

futja e rrobave te banjes trup tere trupit

05:04

and low-friction swimsuits.

129

291871

1897

dhe me ferkim te ulet.

05:05

Throughout sports, technology has
changed the face of performance.

130

293768

3689

Permes sportit, teknologjia ka ndryshuar
formen e performances.

05:09

In 1972, Eddy Merckx set the record

131

297457

2776

Ne 1972, Eddy Merckx vendosi rekordin

05:12

for the longest distance cycled in one hour

132

300233

2324

për distancë më të gjatë të cilklizmit në një orë

05:14

at 30 miles, 3,774 feet.

133

302557

4048

në 30 milje, 3774 metra.

05:18

Now that record improved and improved

134

306605

2248

Tani ai rekord sa vjen e permiresohet

05:21

as bicycles improved and became more aerodynamic

135

308853

3019

teksa biçikletat u permiresun dhe u bene me aerodinamike

05:24

all the way until 1996,

136

311872

1614

gjate tere 1996,

05:25

when it was set at 35 miles, 1,531 feet,

137

313486

4435

ku u vendos per 35 milje, 1,531 metra,

05:30

nearly five miles farther

138

317921

2229

aferisht pese milje me larg

05:32

than Eddy Merckx cycled in 1972.

139

320150

3145

sesa Eddy Merckx ne vitin 1972.

05:35

But then in 2000, the International Cycling Union

140

323295

3423

Por më pas në vitin 2000, Bashkimi Ndërkombëtar i Ciklizmit

05:38

decreed that anyone who wanted to hold that record

141

326718

2508

dha urdher se kushdo qe deshiron te mbaj ate rekord

05:41

had to do so with essentially the same equipment

142

329226

3072

duhej ta bente me pajisjet e njejta thelbesore

05:44

that Eddy Merckx used in 1972.

143

332298

2665

qe Eddy Mercks perdori ne 1972.

05:47

Where does the record stand today?

144

334963

2255

Ku qendron rekordi sot?

05:49

30 miles, 4,657 feet,

145

337218

3622

30 milje, 4,657 metra,

05:53

a grand total of 883 feet

146

340840

3110

ne nje total prej 883 metra

05:56

farther than Eddy Merckx cycled

147

343950

1776

me shume sesa Eddy Mercks kreu nje cikel

05:57

more than four decades ago.

148

345726

1701

me shume sesa kater dekada me pare.

05:59

Essentially the entire improvement in this record

149

347427

2381

Ne thelb, i gjithe permiresimi ne kete ne kete regjistrim

06:02

was due to technology.

150

349808

2052

ishte per shkak te teknologjise.

06:04

Still, technology isn't the only
thing pushing athletes forward.

151

351860

3170

Megjithatë, teknologjia nuk është e vetmja
gjë qe i shtyn atletët përpara.

06:07

While indeed we haven't evolved

152

355030

1451

Ndërsa në të vërtetë ne nuk kemi evoluar

06:08

into a new species in a century,

153

356481

1717

në një specie të re në një shekull,

06:10

the gene pool within competitive sports

154

358198

1960

pishina gjenetike e sporteve konkuruese

06:12

most certainly has changed.

155

360158

2392

me siguri ka ndryshuar.

06:14

In the early half of the 20th century,

156

362550

1909

Ne gjysmen e pare te shekullit 20,

06:16

physical education instructors and coaches

157

364459

1685

instruktore te edukimit fizike dhe trajneret

06:18

had the idea that the average body type

158

366144

2272

paten idene se mesatarja e tipit te trupit

06:20

was the best for all athletic endeavors:

159

368416

2371

ishte me e mira per te gjithe llojet e sportit:

06:22

medium height, medium weight, no matter the sport.

160

370787

3323

gjatesi mesatre, peshe mesatare, pavarsisht sportit.

06:26

And this showed in athletes' bodies.

161

374110

1972

Dhe kjo u tregua ne trupat e atleteve.

06:28

In the 1920s, the average elite high-jumper

162

376082

2253

Ne 1920, mesatraja e elites ne kercim se larti

06:30

and average elite shot-putter
were the same exact size.

163

378335

3715

dhe mesatarje e elites ne flakjen se gjyles
ishin te se njejtes madhesi.

06:34

But as that idea started to fade away,

164

382050

1910

Por pasi idea filloj te venitej,

06:36

as sports scientists and coaches realized that

165

383960

2076

pasi shkenctaret e sportit dhe trajneret kuptuan se

06:38

rather than the average body type,

166

386036

1592

ne vend te mesatres se tipit te trupit,

06:39

you want highly specialized bodies

167

387628

1912

ajo qe duhej ishin trupa te specializuara

06:41

that fit into certain athletic niches,

168

389540

2330

qe pershtaten per sporte te caktuar,

06:44

a form of artificial selection took place,

169

391870

2305

nje forme e re perzgjedhjeje artificiale zuri vend,

06:46

a self-sorting for bodies that fit certain sports,

170

394175

2623

nje vet-perzgjedhje per trupa qe i pershtaten sporteve te caktuara,

06:48

and athletes' bodies became
more different from one another.

171

396798

2660

dhe trupat e atleteve u bene me te ndryshem nga njeri tjetri.

06:51

Today, rather than the same size
as the average elite high jumper,

172

399458

3956

Sot, me shume sesa madhesia e njejte
sesa mesatraj e elites se kercim se lartit

06:55

the average elite shot-putter

173

403414

1014

mesatarja e elites se flakjes se gjyles

06:56

is two and a half inches taller

174

404428

1651

eshte dy inq e gjysme m e gjate

06:58

and 130 pounds heavier.

175

406079

3089

dhe 130 pund me e rende.

07:01

And this happened throughout the sports world.

176

409168

1919

Dhe kjo gje ka ndodhur me te gjitha sportet e botes.

07:03

In fact, if you plot on a height versus mass graph

177

411087

2665

Ne fakt, nese hartoni lartesine kundrejt grafikes se mases

07:05

one data point for each of two dozen sports

178

413752

2528

nje te dhene per te dyja sportet

07:08

in the first half of the 20th century, it looks like this.

179

416280

3285

ne gjysem e pare te shekullit 20-te, duket keshtu.

07:11

There's some dispersal,

180

419565

1485

Ka disa shpërndarje,

07:13

but it's kind of grouped
around that average body type.

181

421050

3010

por eshte si grup
rreth mesatres se tipit te trupit.

07:16

Then that idea started to go away,

182

424060

1579

Pastaj ajo ide filloi te largohej,

07:17

and at the same time, digital technology --

183

425639

1701

dhe ne te njejten kohe, teknologjia digjitale--

07:19

first radio, then television and the Internet --

184

427340

2207

radio e pare, pastaj televizioni dhe interneti--

07:21

gave millions, or in some cases billions, of people

185

429547

2377

dha miliona, ose ne disa raste biliona, te njerezve

07:24

a ticket to consume elite sports performance.

186

431924

3179

nje bilete per te shpenzuar performanca sportive te elites.

07:27

The financial incentives and fame and glory
afforded elite athletes skyrocketed,

187

435103

3873

Stimujt financiare, fama dhe lavdia
i sigurojne atletëve elite te arrijne kulmin,

07:31

and it tipped toward the tiny
upper echelon of performance.

188

438976

4193

dhe largoi performancen e klases se larte.

07:35

It accelerated the artificial
selection for specialized bodies.

189

443169

3427

Ajo pershpejtoj perzgjedhjen artificiale per trupa te specializuar.

07:38

And if you plot a data point for these same

190

446596

1628

Dhe nese ju hartoni te dhena te njejta

07:40

two dozen sports today, it looks like this.

191

448224

3882

per keto dy sporte sot, do te duket keshtu.

07:44

The athletes' bodies have gotten

192

452106

1427

Trupat e atleteve jane bere

07:45

much more different from one another.

193

453533

2194

shume me ndryshe nga njeri-tjetri.

07:47

And because this chart looks like the charts

194

455727

2109

Dhe per shkak se kjo grafike duket si grafiket

07:50

that show the expanding universe,

195

457836

1731

qe tregojne universin e zgjeruar,

07:51

with the galaxies flying away from one another,

196

459567

2460

me galaksite qe fluturojne nga njera tek tjetra,

07:54

the scientists who discovered it call it

197

462027

1644

shkenctaret te cilet e kane zbuluar ate qe quajne

07:55

"The Big Bang of Body Types."

198

463671

3289

"Big Bengu i tipave te trupit."

07:59

In sports where height is prized, like basketball,

199

466960

2408

Në sport ku lartësia është e çmuar, si basketbolli,

08:01

the tall athletes got taller.

200

469368

1790

atletet e gjate zgjaten me shume.

08:03

In 1983, the National Basketball Association

201

471158

3106

Ne 1983, Asociacioni Kombetar i Basketbollit

08:06

signed a groundbreaking agreement

202

474264

1323

nenshkrujati nje marreveshje inovative

08:07

making players partners in the league,

203

475587

2052

duke i bere lojtaret partner ne lige,

08:09

entitled to shares of ticket revenues

204

477639

1550

duke i dhene aksione ne te ardhurat e biletave

08:11

and television contracts.

205

479189

1907

dhe konratat televizive.

08:13

Suddenly, anybody who could be an NBA player

206

481096

2203

Papritmas, kushdo qe mund te ishte lojtar

08:15

wanted to be,

207

483299

1196

deshironte te behej NBA,

08:16

and teams started scouring the globe

208

484495

1846

dhe ekipet filluan te pastronin boten

08:18

for the bodies that could
help them win championships.

209

486341

2280

per trupat qe mund te ndihmonin ata te fitonin kampionatin.

08:20

Almost overnight,

210

488621

1743

Pothuajse brenda natës,

08:22

the proportion of men in the NBA

211

490364

1378

përqindja e njerëzve në NBA

08:23

who are at least seven feet tall doubled

212

491742

1892

të cilët janë të paktën shtatë feet (afer dy metra) te gjate u dyfishuan

08:25

to 10 percent.

213

493634

1765

me 10 përqind.

08:27

Today, one in 10 men in the NBA

214

495399

2023

Sot, nje ne 10 lojtar ne NBA

08:29

is at least seven feet tall,

215

497422

2182

eshte te paketen shtate feet (afer dy metra) i gjate,

08:31

but a seven-foot-tall man is incredibly rare

216

499604

2149

por njeriu shtate feet eshte jashtezakonisht i rralle

08:33

in the general population --

217

501753

1519

ne popullsine e pergjithshme--

08:35

so rare that if you know an American man

218

503272

2650

aq i rralle saqe nese nje Amerikan

08:38

between the ages of 20 and 40

219

505922

1405

ndermjet moshes 20 dhe 40 vjec

08:39

who is at least seven feet tall,

220

507327

2136

i cili eshte te pakten shtate feet i gjate (afer dy metra)

08:41

there's a 17 percent chance

221

509463

1772

ka gjasa 17 perqind gjasa

08:43

he's in the NBA right now.

222

511235

1805

qe ai eshte ne NBA tani.

08:45

(Laughter)

223

513040

2938

(Te qeshura)

08:48

That is, find six honest seven footers,

224

515978

2876

Kjo do te thote, te gjesh gjashte shtatelarte te sinqerte

08:51

one is in the NBA right now.

225

518854

3230

nje prej tyre i ke ne NBA tani.

08:54

And that's not the only way that
NBA players' bodies are unique.

226

522084

2829

Dhe kjo nuk eshte arsyeja se trupat e lojtareve te NBA
jane unik.

08:57

This is Leonardo da Vinci's "Vitruvian Man,"

227

524913

2615

Ky eshte "Njeriu Vitruvian" i Leonardo Da Vincit

08:59

the ideal proportions,

228

527528

1423

propocionet ideale,

09:01

with arm span equal to height.

229

528951

1999

me gjeresi te krahve te barabarte me gjatesine.

09:03

My arm span is exactly equal to my height.

230

530950

2508

Gjersia e kraheve eshte saktsisht e barabarte me gjatesine time.

09:05

Yours is probably very nearly so.

231

533458

2136

E juaja eshte ndoshta pothuajse gati.

09:07

But not the average NBA player.

232

535594

2162

Por jo ne mesataren e lojtarit te NBA.

09:09

The average NBA player is a shade under 6'7",

233

537756

2807

Mesatarja tek nje lojtari NBA eshte poshte 6'7",

09:12

with arms that are seven feet long.

234

540563

2311

me krahe te cilet jane te gjate 2 metra.

09:15

Not only are NBA players ridiculously tall,

235

542874

2798

Lojtaret e NBA jo vetem qe jane ne menyre qesharake shtatelarte,

09:17

they are ludicrously long.

236

545672

2278

ata ne menyre absurde jane te gjate.

09:20

Had Leonardo wanted to draw

237

547950

1005

A deshironte Leonardo te vizatonte

09:21

the Vitruvian NBA Player,

238

548955

1975

lojtarin Vitruvian te NBA,

09:23

he would have needed a rectangle and an ellipse,

239

550930

1973

ai do të kishte nevojë për një drejtkëndësh dhe një elips,

09:25

not a circle and a square.

240

552903

2782

jo një rreth dhe një katror.

09:27

So in sports where large size is prized,

241

555685

2165

Pra, ne sporte ku madhesia eshte e çmuar,

09:30

the large athletes have gotten larger.

242

557850

2071

atletet e medhenj jane bere me te medhenj.

09:32

Conversely, in sports where
diminutive stature is an advantage,

243

559921

2979

Ne anen tjeter, ne sporte ku
te qenurit shtat vogel eshte avantazh,

09:35

the small athletes got smaller.

244

562900

2217

atletet e vegjel jane bere me te vegjel.

09:37

The average elite female gymnast

245

565117

1663

Mesatarja e gjimansteve femra elite

09:38

shrunk from 5'3" to 4'9" on average

246

566780

2763

u zvoglua mesatarisht prej 5'3 ne 4'9

09:41

over the last 30 years,

247

569543

1337

gjate 30 viteve te fundit,

09:43

all the better for their power-to-weight ratio

248

570880

2115

e gjitha ne te miren e raportit fuqi- peshe

09:45

and for spinning in the air.

249

572995

1770

dhe e gjitha per rrotullim ne ajer.

09:46

And while the large got larger

250

574765

1362

Dhe perderisa te medhenjt u bene me te medhenj

09:48

and the small got smaller,

251

576127

1364

dhe te vegjelit me te vegjel,

09:49

the weird got weirder.

252

577491

2428

te çuditshmit u bene me te çuditshem.

09:52

The average length of the forearm

253

579919

1550

Gjatesia mesatare e parakrahut

09:53

of a water polo player in relation

254

581469

1751

i nje lojtari polo uji, ne raport

09:55

to their total arm got longer,

255

583220

1857

me kraun ne teresi, eshte zgjatur

09:57

all the better for a forceful throwing whip.

256

585077

2129

e gjitha ne te miren e hedhjes.

09:59

And as the large got larger,

257

587206

1727

Dhe ndersa te medhenjt u bene me te medhenj,

10:01

small got smaller, and the weird weirder.

258

588933

2370

te vegjlit me te vegjel, dhe te çuditshmit me te çuditshem.

10:03

In swimming, the ideal body type

259

591303

2193

Në not, tipi ideal trupit

10:05

is a long torso and short legs.

260

593496

1895

është një bust i gjatë dhe këmbët e shkurtra.

10:07

It's like the long hull of a canoe

261

595391

1939

Eshte si nje byk i gjate i lundres

10:09

for speed over the water.

262

597330

1706

per shpejtesi ne uje.

10:11

And the opposite is advantageous in running.

263

599036

1765

Dhe e kundërta është e dobishme në vrapim

10:13

You want long legs and a short torso.

264

600801

2015

Ju dëshironi këmbë të gjata dhe një bust të shkurtër.

10:15

And this shows in athletes' bodies today.

265

602816

2196

Dhe kjo tregohet në trupat e atletëve sot.

10:17

Here you see Michael Phelps,

266

605012

1595

E shihni Michael Phelps,

10:18

the greatest swimmer in history,

267

606607

1464

notuesi me i mire ne histori,

10:20

standing next to Hicham El Guerrouj,

268

608071

2869

duke qendruar perkrah Hicham El Guerrouj,

10:23

the world record holder in the mile.

269

610940

1987

bartesi i rekordit boteror.

10:25

These men are seven inches different in height,

270

612927

2817

Këta njerëz janë shtatë inç të ndryshme në gjatesi,

10:27

but because of the body types

271

615744

1202

por për shkak të llojeve të trupit

10:29

advantaged in their sports,

272

616946

1863

avantazh në sport e tyre,

10:31

they wear the same length pants.

273

618809

2388

ata veshin pantallona me gjatësi te njejte.

10:33

Seven inches difference in height,

274

621197

1494

Shtatë inç ndryshim në gjatesi,

10:34

these men have the same length legs.

275

622691

2520

keta njerez kane te njejte gjatesi te kembeve.

10:37

Now in some cases, the search for bodies

276

625211

1958

Keshtu ne disa raste, hulumtimi i trupave

10:39

that could push athletic performance forward

277

627169

1973

qe mund te shty performancat atletike me tutje

10:41

ended up introducing into the competitive world

278

629142

2643

perfundoi duke u futur ne boten konkurruese

10:43

populations of people that weren't
previously competing at all,

279

631785

3139

popullsi njerezish te cilet nuk ishin fare
konkurrues me parë,

10:47

like Kenyan distance runners.

280

634924

2752

si vrapuesit ne distance Kenian.

10:49

We think of Kenyans as being great marathoners.

281

637676

3330

Ne mendojme per Kenianet si maratonist te shkelqyer.

10:53

Kenyans think of the Kalenjin tribe

282

641006

2378

Kenianet mendojne per fisin Kalenjin

10:55

as being great marathoners.

283

643384

2100

si maratonist te shkelqyer.

10:57

The Kalenjin make up just 12 percent

284

645484

2095

Kalenjin përbëjnë vetëm 12 për qind

10:59

of the Kenyan population

285

647579

1797

te popullise Keniane

11:01

but the vast majority of elite runners.

286

649376

2169

por shumica e vrapuesve elite sot.

11:03

And they happen, on average,

287

651545

1306

Mesatarisht,

11:05

to have a certain unique physiology:

288

652851

2104

ata kane nje fiziologji unike:

11:07

legs that are very long

289

654955

1081

kembe shume te gjata

11:08

and very thin at their extremity,

290

656036

2538

dhe shume te dobeta ne ekstremitet,

11:10

and this is because they have their ancestry

291

658574

1418

dhe kjo eshte per shkak te prejardhjes se tyre

11:12

at very low latitude

292

659992

1435

në gjerësi shumë të ulët

11:13

in a very hot and dry climate,

293

661427

2415

në një klimë shumë të nxehtë dhe të thatë,

11:16

and an evolutionary adaptation to that

294

663842

1890

dhe një adaptim evolucionar qe

11:17

is limbs that are very long

295

665732

958

jane gjymtyrët tejet të gjata

11:18

and very thin at the extremity

296

666690

1519

dhe shume te holle ne ekstremitet

11:20

for cooling purposes.

297

668209

1774

per qellime ftohje.

11:22

It's the same reason that a radiator has long coils,

298

669983

3029

Është e njëjta arsye që një radiator ka mbështjellje të gjatë,

11:25

to increase surface area compared to volume

299

673012

1842

për rritjen e sipërfaqes krahasuar me volumin

11:27

to let heat out,

300

674854

1942

per te leshuar ngrohjen jashte,

11:28

and because the leg is like a pendulum,

301

676796

1513

dhe per shkak qe kembet jane si lavjerres,

11:30

the longer and thinner it is at the extremity,

302

678309

1657

sa me te gjata e me te dobeta deri ne ekstremitet,

11:32

the more energy-efficient it is to swing.

303

679966

2779

më shumë energji-efektive lenkundet.

11:34

To put Kalenjin running success in perspective,

304

682745

2594

Per te vene suksesin e vrapimit te Kalenjin ne prespektive

11:37

consider that 17 American men in history

305

685339

2727

duke konsideruar se 17 amerikan ne histori

11:40

have run faster than two hours and 10 minutes

306

688066

2629

kane vrapuar me shpejte se dy ore e 10 minuta

11:42

in the marathon.

307

690695

1289

ne maratone.

11:44

That's a four-minute-and-58-second-per-mile pace.

308

691984

3047

Kjo eshte kater-minuta- e- 58-sekonda-per-milje.

11:47

Thirty-two Kalenjin men did that last October.

309

695031

2935

Tridhjet-e-dy Kalenjin e kan bere kete gje Tetorin e kaluar.

11:50

(Laughter)

310

697966

2094

(Te qeshura)

11:52

That's from a source population the size

311

700060

1821

Kjo eshte nga nje burimi popullesia me madhesine

11:54

of metropolitan Atlanta.

312

701881

2827

e Atlantes metropolitane.

11:56

Still, even changing technology

313

704708

1574

Megjithatë, edhe ndryshimi i teknologjisë

11:58

and the changing gene pool in sports

314

706282

1606

dhe ndryshimi i gjenit ne sporte

12:00

don't account for all of the changes in performance.

315

707888

2473

nuk vlen per te gjitha ndryshimet ne performnaca.

12:02

Athletes have a different mindset than they once did.

316

710361

2890

Atletet kane mendime te ndryshme nga me pare.

12:05

Have you ever seen in a movie when someone gets

317

713251

1369

A keni parë ndonjëherë në një film kur dikush merr

12:06

an electrical shock

318

714620

1272

një goditje elektrike

12:08

and they're thrown across a room?

319

715892

2323

dhe ata hidhen nëpër dhomë?

12:10

There's no explosion there.

320

718215

1571

Nuk ka shpërthim atje.

12:11

What's happening when that happens is that

321

719786

1238

Çfarë ndodh është se

12:13

the electrical impulse is causing

322

721024

1462

impulsi elektrik është duke shkaktuar

12:14

all their muscle fibers to twitch at once,

323

722486

2130

qe të gjitha fibrat e muskujve të tyre te dridhen në një herë,

12:16

and they're throwing themselves across the room.

324

724616

2594

dhe ata janë duke hedhur veten nëpër dhomë.

12:19

They're essentially jumping.

325

727210

1897

Ata ne te verete jane duke kercyer.

12:21

That's the power

326

729107

1177

Kjo është fuqia

12:22

that's contained in the human body.

327

730284

1949

që përfshihet në trupin e njeriut.

12:24

But normally we can't access nearly all of it.

328

732233

2227

Por normalisht ne nuk mund te kemi akses ne të gjithë atë.

12:26

Our brain acts as a limiter,

329

734460

2019

Truri ynë vepron si një limitues,

12:28

preventing us from accessing
all of our physical resources,

330

736479

2295

duke na penguar ne qasje në
të gjitha burimet tona fizike,

12:30

because we might hurt ourselves,

331

738774

1241

sepse ne mund ta lendojme veten tone,

12:32

tearing tendons or ligaments.

332

740015

1692

duke shkeputur ndonje pjesez ose ligament.

12:33

But the more we learn about
how that limiter functions,

333

741707

3023

Por sa me shume qe mesojme se si
funksionon ai limitues,

12:36

the more we learn how we can push it back

334

744730

1880

aq me shume mesojme se si mund ta shtyjme

12:38

just a bit,

335

746610

1440

pak me tutje,

12:40

in some cases by convincing the brain

336

748050

2432

ne disa raste duke bindur trurin

12:42

that the body won't be in mortal danger

337

750482

1774

se trupi nuk do te jete ne rrezik per vdekje

12:44

by pushing harder.

338

752256

1810

duke shtyre me shume.

12:46

Endurance and ultra-endurance sports

339

754066

1619

Durim dhe ultra-durim sportive

12:47

serve as a great example.

340

755685

1572

shërben si një shembull shume i mire.

12:49

Ultra-endurance was once thought to be harmful

341

757257

2122

Ultra-durimi dikur ishte menduar i dëmshem

12:51

to human health,

342

759379

1415

për shëndetin e njeriut

12:52

but now we realize

343

760794

1418

por tani e kuptojmë

12:54

that we have all these traits

344

762212

1096

se ne kemi të gjitha këto tipare

12:55

that are perfect for ultra-endurance:

345

763308

3104

që janë perfekte për ultra-durim:

12:58

no body fur and a glut of sweat glands

346

766412

2924

nuk ka qime trupi dhe një tepri te gjëndrave te djerses

13:01

that keep us cool while running;

347

769336

1616

qe na mban me te freskte teksa vrapojme:

13:03

narrow waists and long legs compared to our frames;

348

770952

3400

bel te ngushte dhe kembe te gjate krahasuar me kornizat tona;

13:06

large surface area of joints for shock absorption.

349

774352

2918

siperfaqe te madhe te nyjeve per absorbimin e goditjes.

13:09

We have an arch in our foot that acts like a spring,

350

777270

2734

Ne kemi nje hark ne kembet tona qe vepron si suste,

13:12

short toes that are better for pushing off

351

780004

2103

gishta te shkurte qe jane me mire per shtyerje

13:14

than for grasping tree limbs,

352

782107

1674

pastaj per te shtrenguar gjymtyret

13:15

and when we run,

353

783781

1127

dhe kur vrapojme,

13:17

we can turn our torso and our shoulders

354

784908

1525

ne mund te kthejme bustin dhe supet tona

13:18

like this while keeping our heads straight.

355

786433

2044

keshtu perderisa mbajme kokat tona drejte.

13:20

Our primate cousins can't do that.

356

788477

1483

Kushërinjtë tanë primati nuk mund ta bëjë këtë.

13:22

They have to run like this.

357

789960

2310

Ata duhet te vrapojne keshtu.

13:24

And we have big old butt muscles

358

792270

2066

Dhe ne kemi muskuj te medhenj te ndenjurash

13:26

that keep us upright while running.

359

794336

2087

qe na mbajne ne kembe teksa vrapojme.

13:28

Have you ever looked at an ape's butt?

360

796423

1718

A keni pare ndonjehere prapanice te majmunit?

13:30

They have no buns because they don't run upright.

361

798141

3005

Ata nuk kane kane kocka sepse nuk vrapojne ne kembe.

13:33

And as athletes have realized

362

801146

1387

Dhe perderisa atletet kane kuptuar

13:34

that we're perfectly suited for ultra-endurance,

363

802533

2557

se ne jemi te bere per ultra-durim,

13:37

they've taken on feats

364

805090

1047

ata kane marre persiper vepra

13:38

that would have been unthinkable before,

365

806137

2409

te cilat kane qene te pa imagjinushme me pare,

13:40

athletes like Spanish endurance racer Kílian Jornet.

366

808546

3903

atletet si vrapuesi Spanjoll Kilian Jornet.

13:44

Here's Kílian running up the Matterhorn.

367

812449

2000

Ky eshte vrapuesi Kilian ne Matterhorn.

13:46

(Laughter)

368

814449

1512

(Te qeshura)

13:48

With a sweatshirt there tied around his waist.

369

815961

2609

Me një xhup te lidhur rreth belit të tij.

13:50

It's so steep he can't even run here.

370

818570

1722

Eshte aq e rrepire saqe ai nuk mund te vrapoj ketu.

13:52

He's pulling up on a rope.

371

820292

1653

Ai eshte duk u terhqur nga nje litar.

13:54

This is a vertical ascent

372

821945

1337

Kjo eshte nje ngjitje vertikale

13:55

of more than 8,000 feet,

373

823282

2109

e me shume se 8.000 feet,

13:57

and Kílian went up and down

374

825391

1667

dhe Kilian shkoj lart e poshte

13:59

in under three hours.

375

827058

2381

ne me pak se tre ore.

14:01

Amazing.

376

829439

1919

E mrekullushme.

14:03

And talented though he is,

377

831358

1189

Aq i talentuar sa eshte ai,

14:04

Kílian is not a physiological freak.

378

832547

2824

Kilian nuk eshte fanatik fiziologjik.

14:07

Now that he has done this,

379

835371

1679

Tani qe ai e ka bere kete,

14:09

other athletes will follow,

380

837050

1911

atlet te tjere do te ndjekin,

14:11

just as other athletes followed

381

838961

1517

ashtu si atlet te tjere kane ndjekur

14:12

after Sir Roger Bannister

382

840478

1574

pasi Sir Roger Bannister

14:14

ran under four minutes in the mile.

383

842052

2138

vrapoi per kater minuta ne milje.

14:16

Changing technology, changing genes,

384

844190

1627

Ndryshimi i teknologjise, ndryshimi i gjenve,

14:18

and a changing mindset.

385

845817

2398

dhe ndryshimi i mendimit.

14:20

Innovation in sports,

386

848215

1784

Risite ne sport,

14:22

whether that's new track surfaces

387

849999

1657

nese ka pista te reja

14:23

or new swimming techniques,

388

851656

1464

ose teknika te reja te notimit,

14:25

the democratization of sport,

389

853120

1870

demokratizimi i sportit,

14:27

the spread to new bodies

390

854990

1341

perhapja e organve te reja

14:28

and to new populations around the world,

391

856331

2585

dhe popullsia e re rreth botes,

14:31

and imagination in sport,

392

858916

2053

dhe imagjinata ne sport,

14:33

an understanding of what the human body

393

860969

1436

nje kuptim se per cka eshte ne gjendje

14:34

is truly capable of,

394

862405

1781

te beje trupi i njeriut,

14:36

have conspired to make athletes stronger,

395

864186

1892

kane vendosur te bejne atletet me te forte,

14:38

faster, bolder,

396

866078

2523

te shpejte, me guximtar,

14:40

and better than ever.

397

868601

1977

dhe me te mire se kurre me pare.

14:42

Thank you very much.

398

870578

2356

Faleminderit shume.

14:45

(Applause)

399

872934

3526

Duartokitje

Translated by Ereblir Kadriu
Reviewed by Iris Xholi

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

David Epstein - Sports science reporter
David Epstein is an investigative reporter who covers the wide-open space where sports, science and medicine overlap.

Why you should listen

David Epstein writes about the developing science around sport -- from performance-enhancing drugs to the lucky genetics that separate a professional athlete from a duffer. A science writer and longtime contributor to Sports Illustrated, he's helped break stories on steroids in baseball, fraudulently marketed health remedies, and big-money irregularities in "amateur" college football. In 2007, inspired by the death of a childhood friend, he wrote a moving exploration of the most common cause of sudden death in young athletes, a hard-to-diagnose heart irregularity known as HCM.

Now an investigative reporter at ProPublica, Epstein is the author of The Sports Gene, a book that explores the complex factors that make up a championship athlete. Is there such a thing as natural greatness, or can even extreme skills -- like the freaky-fast reaction of a hockey great -- be learned? Conversely, is the desire and will to master extreme skills something you're born with?

More profile about the speaker
David Epstein | Speaker | TED.com

THE ORIGINAL VIDEO ON TED.COM

David Epstein: A jane duke u bere atletet me te shpejte, me te mire, me te forte? | TED Talk | TED.com