TED2014
David Epstein: Are athletes really getting faster, better, stronger?
戴维.爱泼斯坦: 运动员们真的在做到更高，更快，更强吗？
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当你回顾过去十年的运动成就时，看起来人类似乎已经在几乎每种道路上做到了更好，更快，更强。但戴维 爱泼斯坦在他惊人理性的谈话里指出，我们或许该停止自我陶醉了。在比赛中有很多因素都会影响运动记录，而我们的体质自然进步只是其中之一。
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
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.
奥林匹克的精神是“ 高，快，强。”
00:13
The Olympic motto is "Citius, Altius, Fortius."
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00:16
Faster, Higher, Stronger.
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即更高，更快，更强。
00:19
And athletes have fulfilled that motto rapidly.
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运动员们立刻执行了这种精神。
00:22
The winner of the 2012 Olympic marathon
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2012年奥林匹克运动会马拉松冠军
00:26
ran two hours and eight minutes.
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花费了2小时8分钟。
00:28
Had he been racing against the winner
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将他与1904年奥林匹克运动会
00:30
of the 1904 Olympic marathon,
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的马拉松冠军进行比较，
00:32
he would have won by nearly an hour and a half.
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他要快将近一个半小时。
00:35
Now we all have this feeling
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现在我们都有一种感觉,
00:37
that we're somehow just getting better
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那就是我们作为人类
00:39
as a human race, inexorably progressing,
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已有了无可争议的进步，
00:41
but it's not like we've evolved into a new species
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但这并不意味着我们在在一个世纪内
00:43
in a century.
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进化成了一个新的物种。
00:45
So what's going on here?
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所以呢？
00:47
I want to take a look at what's really behind
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我想要看看这种运动的巨大进步
00:49
this march of athletic progress.
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背后究竟存在着什么。
00:51
In 1936, Jesse Owens
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在1936年，杰西.欧文
00:54
held the world record in the 100 meters.
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保持了100米世界纪录。
00:56
Had Jesse Owens been racing last year
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那么杰西.欧文与去年的100米
00:59
in the world championships of the 100 meters,
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世界冠军比较呢，
01:01
when Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt finished,
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当牙买加短跑运动员尤塞恩.博尔特完成的时候，
01:04
Owens would have still had 14 feet to go.
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欧文仍然还差14英尺完成。
01:07
That's a lot in sprinter land.
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这在短跑上是一个很长的距离。
01:09
To give you a sense of how much it is,
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为了给大家一个14英尺是多远的概念，
01:10
I want to share with you a demonstration
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我想要给大家分享一个由运动科学家罗斯.塔克
01:12
conceived by sports scientist Ross Tucker.
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研究所得出的结论。
01:15
Now picture the stadium last year
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现在想象去年的世锦赛的
01:18
at the world championships of the 100 meters:
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100米比赛体育场；
01:20
thousands of fans waiting with baited breath
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成千上万的粉丝屏住呼吸等待着
01:22
to see Usain Bolt, the fastest man in history;
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去观看尤塞恩 博尔特，史上跑得最快的人；
01:26
flashbulbs popping as the
nine fastest men in the world
nine fastest men in the world
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如同闪光灯闪动时一样的世界上最快的九个人
01:29
coil themselves into their blocks.
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在各自的跑道上做好准备。
01:31
And I want you to pretend
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我想让你们假想
01:32
that Jesse Owens is in that race.
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杰西.欧文正在这个赛场上，
01:35
Now close your eyes for a
second and picture the race.
second and picture the race.
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现在闭上眼睛一秒钟并且构画一下这场比赛。
01:38
Bang! The gun goes off.
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砰，发令枪响了。
01:40
An American sprinter jumps out to the front.
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一个美国短跑运动员率先领先。
01:42
Usain Bolt starts to catch him.
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尤塞恩 博尔特开始赶上他，
01:44
Usain Bolt passes him, and as
the runners come to the finish,
the runners come to the finish,
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尤塞恩 博尔特超过了他，当每个运动员完成的时候，
01:45
you'll hear a beep as each man crosses the line.
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你将听到每个人跨越终点线的哔哔声。
01:48
(Beeps)
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（哔哔)
01:50
That's the entire finish of the race.
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这就是整个比赛的结束。
01:53
You can open your eyes now.
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现在你可以睁开眼睛了，
01:54
That first beep was Usain Bolt.
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第一名是尤塞恩 博尔特。
01:57
That last beep was Jesse Owens.
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最后一名是杰西 欧文。
01:59
Listen to it again.
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再听一下，
02:01
(Beeps)
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（哔哔）
02:03
When you think of it like that,
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当你考虑的时候，
02:04
it's not that big a difference, is it?
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这并没有大的区别，不是吗？
02:06
And then consider that Usain Bolt started
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接下来想一下尤塞恩 博尔特
02:08
by propelling himself out of blocks
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从一个支架助推自己出发
02:11
down a specially fabricated carpet
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支架下有着特殊的弹性地毯
02:13
designed to allow him to travel
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目的是为了让他在一瞬间
02:15
as fast as humanly possible.
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跑出人类最高速。
02:17
Jesse Owens, on the other hand,
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可是杰西.欧文，
02:19
ran on cinders, the ash from burnt wood,
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在焚烧过的木头产生的煤渣上跑步，
02:22
and that soft surface stole far more energy
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在他跑步时，柔软的地面
02:25
from his legs as he ran.
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会从他腿上偷走更多的能量。
02:26
Rather than blocks, Jesse
Owens had a gardening trowel
Owens had a gardening trowel
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谈到起跑支点，杰西 欧文有一把园丁铲
02:29
that he had to use to dig holes
in the cinders to start from.
in the cinders to start from.
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他过去经常用来在煤渣跑道挖洞以支撑支架。
02:33
Biomechanical analysis of the speed
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从生物力学上来讲，
02:35
of Owens' joints shows that had been running
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杰西.欧文关节的速度显示他和尤塞恩 博尔特
02:38
on the same surface as Bolt,
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跑过了一样多的路程。
02:39
he wouldn't have been 14 feet behind,
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他本不应该落后14英尺，
02:42
he would have been within one stride.
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他应该已经往前一大步。
02:44
Rather than the last beep,
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相对于最后一名而言，
02:46
Owens would have been the second beep.
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杰西.欧文本应该得到第二名。
02:49
Listen to it again.
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现在再听一下。
02:51
(Beeps)
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（哔哔）
02:53
That's the difference track
surface technology has made,
surface technology has made,
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这就是不同的跑道表面科技所造成的不同，
02:55
and it's done it throughout the running world.
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这种差异遍及整个田径世界。
02:57
Consider a longer event.
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想想一件更久远的事。
02:59
In 1954, Sir Roger Bannister
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在1945年，罗杰.本尼斯特阁下
03:02
became the first man to run
under four minutes in the mile.
under four minutes in the mile.
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成为了第一个在四分钟内跑完一英里的人。
03:05
Nowadays, college kids do that every year.
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现在大学学生每年都这样做。
03:08
On rare occasions, a high school kid does it.
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在极少的偶然下，高中生也可以做到。
03:11
As of the end of last year,
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在去年年末，
03:12
1,314 men
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1314人
03:15
had run under four minutes in the mile,
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在四分钟内跑完了一英里，
03:17
but like Jesse Owens,
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但就像杰西.欧文一样，
03:19
Sir Roger Bannister ran on soft cinders
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罗杰.本尼斯特阁下在柔软的煤渣上跑步，
03:21
that stole far more energy from his legs
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这从他腿上偷去的能量要多于
03:23
than the synthetic tracks of today.
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今日的塑胶跑道所偷走的。
03:25
So I consulted biomechanics experts
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所以我请求生物力学专家
03:27
to find out how much slower it is to run on cinders
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找出在煤渣上跑步要比塑胶跑道
03:30
than synthetic tracks,
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多耗费多少能量，
03:31
and their consensus that it's
one and a half percent slower.
one and a half percent slower.
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他们的一致意见是会慢一点五个百分点。
03:34
So if you apply a one and a half
percent slowdown conversion
percent slowdown conversion
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所以如果你假设每个人在人工跑道
03:37
to every man who ran his sub-four mile
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跑四英里的时候会有
03:40
on a synthetic track,
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百分之一点五的速度变化，
03:41
this is what happens.
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这就是真相。
03:43
Only 530 are left.
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只剩下530人了。
03:45
If you look at it from that perspective,
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如果你从这个角度来看，
03:47
fewer than ten new men per [year]
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从罗杰.本尼斯特阁下开始，
03:49
have joined the sub-four mile club
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每年只有不到10个人
03:50
since Sir Roger Bannister.
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加入这个四分钟跑完一英里的行列。
03:53
Now, 530 is a lot more than one,
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530人当然是远远多于一个人的，
03:56
and that's partly because
there are many more people
there are many more people
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部分原因在于现代更多的人
03:57
training today and they're training more intelligently.
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可以接受训练并且训练方法更加科学合理。
04:00
Even college kids are professional in their training
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比较于罗杰.本尼斯特阁下，
04:02
compared to Sir Roger Bannister,
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在医药学校学习妇科医学时
04:03
who trained for 45 minutes at a time
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一次训练45分钟，
04:05
while he ditched gynecology lectures in med school.
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甚至连大学生都要比他训练得更加专业。
04:08
And that guy who won the 1904 Olympic marathon
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有一个用了三个半小时赢得
04:10
in three in a half hours,
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1904年的马拉松冠军的人，
04:12
that guy was drinking rat poison and brandy
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他在沿着跑道跑步时，
04:14
while he ran along the course.
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正在引用老鼠药和白兰地。
04:16
That was his idea of a performance-enhancing drug.
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这就是他关于兴奋剂的概念。
04:19
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
04:21
Clearly, athletes have gotten more savvy
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清晰可见的是，运动员们也已经得到了
04:23
about performance-enhancing drugs as well,
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更多关于兴奋剂的知识。
04:25
and that's made a difference
in some sports at some times,
in some sports at some times,
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这有时会使一些运动产生不同，
04:27
but technology has made a difference in all sports,
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但是科技已经在所有运动上造就了不同，
04:30
from faster skis to lighter shoes.
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从更快的滑雪板到更轻的鞋子。
04:32
Take a look at the record for
the 100-meter freestyle swim.
the 100-meter freestyle swim.
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让我们来看一下100米自由泳的记录。
04:35
The record is always trending downward,
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这些记录总是趋向于下降，
04:38
but it's punctuated by these steep cliffs.
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但总会被一些陡峭的“斜坡”打断。
04:41
This first cliff, in 1956, is the introduction
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第一个陡坡，是在1956年，
04:44
of the flip turn.
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翻转式跳水的普及。
04:45
Rather than stopping and turning around,
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相比于停下来再转身，
04:47
athletes could somersault under the water
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运动员们可以翻转入水
04:49
and get going right away in the opposite direction.
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并且在相反的方向立刻前进。
04:51
This second cliff, the introduction of gutters
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第二个陡坡，是游泳池边
04:54
on the side of the pool
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排水沟的普及，
04:56
that allows water to splash off,
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这允许水随意溅出，
04:57
rather than becoming turbulence
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而不是变成在比赛时阻碍运动员
04:58
that impedes the swimmers as they race.
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的涡流。
05:01
This final cliff,
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最后一个陡坡，
05:02
the introduction of full-body
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是全身式低摩擦力泳衣
05:04
and low-friction swimsuits.
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的普及。
05:05
Throughout sports, technology has
changed the face of performance.
changed the face of performance.
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纵观运动史，科技已经改变了其面貌。
05:09
In 1972, Eddy Merckx set the record
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在1972年， 埃迪.麦克莱斯打破了
05:12
for the longest distance cycled in one hour
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一小时骑行最长距离的记录，
05:14
at 30 miles, 3,774 feet.
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1小时骑行30英里，3774英尺。
05:18
Now that record improved and improved
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现在这个记录随着自行车对于空气动力学的发展
05:21
as bicycles improved and became more aerodynamic
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一直在提升。
05:24
all the way until 1996,
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自始至终直到1996年，
05:25
when it was set at 35 miles, 1,531 feet,
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记录是35英里，1531英尺，
05:30
nearly five miles farther
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将近比埃迪 麦克莱斯在1972年取得的成绩
05:32
than Eddy Merckx cycled in 1972.
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多了5英里。
05:35
But then in 2000, the International Cycling Union
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但是接下来在2000年，国际自行车协会
05:38
decreed that anyone who wanted to hold that record
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颁布条例：任何想要打破记录的人
05:41
had to do so with essentially the same equipment
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都需要使用相同的基础设备，
05:44
that Eddy Merckx used in 1972.
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就像埃迪.麦克莱斯在1972年使用的一样。
05:47
Where does the record stand today?
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今天的世界记录呢？
05:49
30 miles, 4,657 feet,
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30英里，4657英尺，
05:53
a grand total of 883 feet
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整整比40年前
05:56
farther than Eddy Merckx cycled
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埃迪 麦克莱斯的记录
05:57
more than four decades ago.
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多出883英尺。
05:59
Essentially the entire improvement in this record
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基本上来说，在世界纪录上取得的所有进步
06:02
was due to technology.
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都是因为科技。
06:04
Still, technology isn't the only
thing pushing athletes forward.
thing pushing athletes forward.
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但科技仍然不是推动运动进步的唯一因素。
06:07
While indeed we haven't evolved
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我们确实没有在一个世纪内进化成
06:08
into a new species in a century,
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一个新物种，
06:10
the gene pool within competitive sports
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但竞技运动内的基因库
06:12
most certainly has changed.
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大部分确实已经改变了。
06:14
In the early half of the 20th century,
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在20世纪上半叶，
06:16
physical education instructors and coaches
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体育教师和教练都认为
06:18
had the idea that the average body type
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匀称的体型对于所有运动来说
06:20
was the best for all athletic endeavors:
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是最好的；
06:22
medium height, medium weight, no matter the sport.
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中等身高，中等体重，无论什么运动。
06:26
And this showed in athletes' bodies.
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这体现在运动员的身体上。
06:28
In the 1920s, the average elite high-jumper
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在20世纪20年代，跳高运动员的平均身高
06:30
and average elite shot-putter
were the same exact size.
were the same exact size.
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和铅球运动员是一样的。
06:34
But as that idea started to fade away,
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但是这种见解逐渐消失了，
06:36
as sports scientists and coaches realized that
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在运动学家和教练们了解到
06:38
rather than the average body type,
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比起平均的身形，
06:39
you want highly specialized bodies
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你更需要高度专业的体型
06:41
that fit into certain athletic niches,
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来吻合特定运动的框架，
06:44
a form of artificial selection took place,
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一份特定选项的标准出现了，
06:46
a self-sorting for bodies that fit certain sports,
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一份为适合特定运动的体型排序，
06:48
and athletes' bodies became
more different from one another.
more different from one another.
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运动员的体型就变得和其他运动员更加不同了。
06:51
Today, rather than the same size
as the average elite high jumper,
as the average elite high jumper,
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在今天，相比于同样规格的跳高运动员的平均体型，
06:55
the average elite shot-putter
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铅球运动员的平均体型
06:56
is two and a half inches taller
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要高二点五英寸
06:58
and 130 pounds heavier.
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并且重130磅。
07:01
And this happened throughout the sports world.
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这在整个运动界都是存在的。
07:03
In fact, if you plot on a height versus mass graph
177
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事实上，如果你标出一个高度和重量的坐标
07:05
one data point for each of two dozen sports
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也就是24种运动对应一个点的数据
07:08
in the first half of the 20th century, it looks like this.
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在20世纪上半叶，看起来就像这样。
07:11
There's some dispersal,
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非常稀疏，
07:13
but it's kind of grouped
around that average body type.
around that average body type.
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但这近乎于聚合在平均体型周围。
07:16
Then that idea started to go away,
182
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之后这种见解逐渐消失，
07:17
and at the same time, digital technology --
183
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1701
与此同时，数字科技--
07:19
first radio, then television and the Internet --
184
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2207
首先是收音机，然后是电视和网络--
07:21
gave millions, or in some cases billions, of people
185
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2377
给予百万，甚至十余亿人
07:24
a ticket to consume elite sports performance.
186
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3179
一张“票”去观看运动比赛。
07:27
The financial incentives and fame and glory
afforded elite athletes skyrocketed,
afforded elite athletes skyrocketed,
187
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经济诱因，名誉和荣誉使得运动员突飞猛进，
07:31
and it tipped toward the tiny
upper echelon of performance.
upper echelon of performance.
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4193
并且在运动中制造了一个微小的上升梯队。
07:35
It accelerated the artificial
selection for specialized bodies.
selection for specialized bodies.
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3427
它加速了对于特定体型的人工选择。
07:38
And if you plot a data point for these same
190
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1628
如果为24种相似的运动假设一个数据点，
07:40
two dozen sports today, it looks like this.
191
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3882
看起来像这样。
07:44
The athletes' bodies have gotten
192
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1427
运动员的体型已经变得
07:45
much more different from one another.
193
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与其他种类的运动员们非常不同。
07:47
And because this chart looks like the charts
194
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2109
因为这个图表看起来很像另外一个图表，
07:50
that show the expanding universe,
195
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1731
那个图标显示了扩张的宇宙，
07:51
with the galaxies flying away from one another,
196
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2460
和行星从另外的行星飞出，
07:54
the scientists who discovered it call it
197
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1644
发现这个现象的科学家叫它
07:55
"The Big Bang of Body Types."
198
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“体型种类大爆炸。”
07:59
In sports where height is prized, like basketball,
199
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2408
在强调身高的运动里，例如篮球，
08:01
the tall athletes got taller.
200
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1790
很高的运动员变得更高。
08:03
In 1983, the National Basketball Association
201
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3106
在1983年，国家篮球协会
08:06
signed a groundbreaking agreement
202
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1323
签署了一个突破性的文件，
08:07
making players partners in the league,
203
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2052
使得运动员在联盟里合伙，
08:09
entitled to shares of ticket revenues
204
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1550
称作门票所得和电视合约
08:11
and television contracts.
205
479189
1907
的分享。
08:13
Suddenly, anybody who could be an NBA player
206
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2203
突然，任何有潜力当球员的人
08:15
wanted to be,
207
483299
1196
都想进入NBA，
08:16
and teams started scouring the globe
208
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1846
球队开始走遍世界
08:18
for the bodies that could
help them win championships.
help them win championships.
209
486341
2280
去寻找可以帮他们赢得冠军的球员。
08:20
Almost overnight,
210
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1743
几乎一夜之间，
08:22
the proportion of men in the NBA
211
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1378
NBA的人员比例中
08:23
who are at least seven feet tall doubled
212
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1892
七英尺身高的人
08:25
to 10 percent.
213
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1765
翻了两倍直到百分之十。
08:27
Today, one in 10 men in the NBA
214
495399
2023
今天，NBA里十个人中就有一个人
08:29
is at least seven feet tall,
215
497422
2182
至少七英尺高，
08:31
but a seven-foot-tall man is incredibly rare
216
499604
2149
但是一个七英尺高的人在普遍人口中
08:33
in the general population --
217
501753
1519
是不可思议地稀少 --
08:35
so rare that if you know an American man
218
503272
2650
稀少到以至于如果你认识一个美国人
08:38
between the ages of 20 and 40
219
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1405
年龄在20岁到40岁
08:39
who is at least seven feet tall,
220
507327
2136
身高至少七英尺，
08:41
there's a 17 percent chance
221
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1772
那么有百分之17的几率
08:43
he's in the NBA right now.
222
511235
1805
他就在NBA里。
08:45
(Laughter)
223
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2938
（笑声）
08:48
That is, find six honest seven footers,
224
515978
2876
所以如果有六个刚好身高七英尺的人，
08:51
one is in the NBA right now.
225
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3230
其中一个现在就在NBA。
08:54
And that's not the only way that
NBA players' bodies are unique.
NBA players' bodies are unique.
226
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2829
并不仅仅是NBA球员体型特别。
08:57
This is Leonardo da Vinci's "Vitruvian Man,"
227
524913
2615
这是莱昂纳多.达芬奇的“维特鲁威人，”
08:59
the ideal proportions,
228
527528
1423
黄金比例，
09:01
with arm span equal to height.
229
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1999
臂展等于身高。
09:03
My arm span is exactly equal to my height.
230
530950
2508
我的臂展确实等同于身高。
09:05
Yours is probably very nearly so.
231
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2136
你们的或许也一样。
09:07
But not the average NBA player.
232
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2162
但这不是NBA球员的平均数据。
09:09
The average NBA player is a shade under 6'7",
233
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2807
NBA球员的平均数据是六英尺七英寸高，
09:12
with arms that are seven feet long.
234
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2311
臂展七英尺长。
09:15
Not only are NBA players ridiculously tall,
235
542874
2798
他们不仅难以置信地高，
09:17
they are ludicrously long.
236
545672
2278
他们还极端地”长“。
09:20
Had Leonardo wanted to draw
237
547950
1005
如果莱昂纳多达芬奇想要画
09:21
the Vitruvian NBA Player,
238
548955
1975
维特鲁威NBA球员的话，
09:23
he would have needed a rectangle and an ellipse,
239
550930
1973
他将需要一个矩形和一个椭圆形，
09:25
not a circle and a square.
240
552903
2782
而不是一个圆形和一个正方形。
09:27
So in sports where large size is prized,
241
555685
2165
所以在巨大体格占优势的运动中，
09:30
the large athletes have gotten larger.
242
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2071
”巨大“的运动员变得越来越”巨大“。
09:32
Conversely, in sports where
diminutive stature is an advantage,
diminutive stature is an advantage,
243
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2979
相反的是，在微小身材占优势的运动中，
09:35
the small athletes got smaller.
244
562900
2217
很矮的运动员们变得更矮了。
09:37
The average elite female gymnast
245
565117
1663
女子体操的平均数据
09:38
shrunk from 5'3" to 4'9" on average
246
566780
2763
在过去30年中，
09:41
over the last 30 years,
247
569543
1337
从5英尺3英寸缩小到了四英尺九英寸，
09:43
all the better for their power-to-weight ratio
248
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2115
这样有益于他们的能量-体重比率
09:45
and for spinning in the air.
249
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1770
和在空气中旋转。
09:46
And while the large got larger
250
574765
1362
在大的更大
09:48
and the small got smaller,
251
576127
1364
和小的更小的同时，
09:49
the weird got weirder.
252
577491
2428
奇怪的变得更奇怪。
09:52
The average length of the forearm
253
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1550
游泳运动员
09:53
of a water polo player in relation
254
581469
1751
的平均前臂长度
09:55
to their total arm got longer,
255
583220
1857
相对于他们的整个手臂变得更长了，
09:57
all the better for a forceful throwing whip.
256
585077
2129
这有益于强有力的滑动。
09:59
And as the large got larger,
257
587206
1727
在大的更大的同时，
10:01
small got smaller, and the weird weirder.
258
588933
2370
小的更小，奇怪的更奇怪。
10:03
In swimming, the ideal body type
259
591303
2193
在游泳中，理想体型
10:05
is a long torso and short legs.
260
593496
1895
是修长的躯干和短腿。
10:07
It's like the long hull of a canoe
261
595391
1939
就像独木舟的修长船身一样
10:09
for speed over the water.
262
597330
1706
是为了水中的速度。
10:11
And the opposite is advantageous in running.
263
599036
1765
同时把这反过来就在跑步中占优势。
10:13
You want long legs and a short torso.
264
600801
2015
你需要修长的腿和短的躯干。
10:15
And this shows in athletes' bodies today.
265
602816
2196
这展示了现在运动员的体型。
10:17
Here you see Michael Phelps,
266
605012
1595
这里你看到迈克.菲尔普斯，
10:18
the greatest swimmer in history,
267
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1464
历史上最伟大的游泳运动员，
10:20
standing next to Hicham El Guerrouj,
268
608071
2869
就站在希查姆.艾尔.奎罗伊的旁边，
10:23
the world record holder in the mile.
269
610940
1987
一英里世界纪录的保持者。
10:25
These men are seven inches different in height,
270
612927
2817
这些人在身高上有七英寸的差距，
10:27
but because of the body types
271
615744
1202
但是由于在他们运动内
10:29
advantaged in their sports,
272
616946
1863
的优势体型，
10:31
they wear the same length pants.
273
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2388
他们都穿着一样长的裤子。
10:33
Seven inches difference in height,
274
621197
1494
七英寸的身高差距，
10:34
these men have the same length legs.
275
622691
2520
这些人有一样长的腿。
10:37
Now in some cases, the search for bodies
276
625211
1958
现在在一些事例里，对于
10:39
that could push athletic performance forward
277
627169
1973
可以推进运动的体型的搜索
10:41
ended up introducing into the competitive world
278
629142
2643
告终于竞争世界人口中之前
10:43
populations of people that weren't
previously competing at all,
previously competing at all,
279
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3139
从来没有受过训练的人的推广，
10:47
like Kenyan distance runners.
280
634924
2752
就像肯尼亚长跑运动员。
10:49
We think of Kenyans as being great marathoners.
281
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3330
我们认为肯尼亚人是好的马拉松选手。
10:53
Kenyans think of the Kalenjin tribe
282
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2378
肯尼亚人认为卡伦津部落
10:55
as being great marathoners.
283
643384
2100
是好的马拉松选手。
10:57
The Kalenjin make up just 12 percent
284
645484
2095
卡伦津仅仅占据肯尼亚
10:59
of the Kenyan population
285
647579
1797
百分之十二的人口
11:01
but the vast majority of elite runners.
286
649376
2169
但却有着大多数的长跑运动员。
11:03
And they happen, on average,
287
651545
1306
他们在平均体型上，
11:05
to have a certain unique physiology:
288
652851
2104
都有着非常独特的生理特征：
11:07
legs that are very long
289
654955
1081
极端长
11:08
and very thin at their extremity,
290
656036
2538
和瘦的腿，
11:10
and this is because they have their ancestry
291
658574
1418
这是因为他们的祖先
11:12
at very low latitude
292
659992
1435
生活在很低的纬度，
11:13
in a very hot and dry climate,
293
661427
2415
和非常燥热的气候下，
11:16
and an evolutionary adaptation to that
294
663842
1890
和一种进化性的适应：
11:17
is limbs that are very long
295
665732
958
以降温为目的的
11:18
and very thin at the extremity
296
666690
1519
极端长和瘦
11:20
for cooling purposes.
297
668209
1774
的腿。
11:22
It's the same reason that a radiator has long coils,
298
669983
3029
这与散热器有很长的线圈
11:25
to increase surface area compared to volume
299
673012
1842
去增加相对于体积的表面积
11:27
to let heat out,
300
674854
1942
而使热量散出是同样的原因，
11:28
and because the leg is like a pendulum,
301
676796
1513
因为腿就像一个钟摆，
11:30
the longer and thinner it is at the extremity,
302
678309
1657
更长和更细，
11:32
the more energy-efficient it is to swing.
303
679966
2779
摇摆就有更多的能量效率。
11:34
To put Kalenjin running success in perspective,
304
682745
2594
把卡伦津在长跑上的成功放远一点，
11:37
consider that 17 American men in history
305
685339
2727
考虑一下历史下十七个在
11:40
have run faster than two hours and 10 minutes
306
688066
2629
两小时十分钟内完成马拉松
11:42
in the marathon.
307
690695
1289
的美国人。
11:44
That's a four-minute-and-58-second-per-mile pace.
308
691984
3047
他们的速度是四分五十八秒一英里。
11:47
Thirty-two Kalenjin men did that last October.
309
695031
2935
三十二个卡伦津人去年十月做到了这一点。
11:50
(Laughter)
310
697966
2094
（笑声）
11:52
That's from a source population the size
311
700060
1821
这来自一个关于大都会亚特兰大
11:54
of metropolitan Atlanta.
312
701881
2827
的人口数量资料。
11:56
Still, even changing technology
313
704708
1574
甚至科技的改变和
11:58
and the changing gene pool in sports
314
706282
1606
基因池的改变在运动的改变中
12:00
don't account for all of the changes in performance.
315
707888
2473
依然不是全部的因素。
12:02
Athletes have a different mindset than they once did.
316
710361
2890
运动员们会有与前一次不同的心态。
12:05
Have you ever seen in a movie when someone gets
317
713251
1369
你看过一个人被
12:06
an electrical shock
318
714620
1272
电击并被弹过
12:08
and they're thrown across a room?
319
715892
2323
整个房间里的电影吗？
12:10
There's no explosion there.
320
718215
1571
没有爆炸。
12:11
What's happening when that happens is that
321
719786
1238
当电力的脉动
12:13
the electrical impulse is causing
322
721024
1462
促使他们的肌肉纤维
12:14
all their muscle fibers to twitch at once,
323
722486
2130
颤动到两倍，
12:16
and they're throwing themselves across the room.
324
724616
2594
他们会自己把自己弹出去。
12:19
They're essentially jumping.
325
727210
1897
本质上而言他们是在跳跃。
12:21
That's the power
326
729107
1177
这就是人类体内
12:22
that's contained in the human body.
327
730284
1949
所蕴含的能量。
12:24
But normally we can't access nearly all of it.
328
732233
2227
但是通常而言我们不能全部全部。
12:26
Our brain acts as a limiter,
329
734460
2019
我们的大脑如同一个限制器一般，
12:28
preventing us from accessing
all of our physical resources,
all of our physical resources,
330
736479
2295
阻止我们动用全部的生理能量，
12:30
because we might hurt ourselves,
331
738774
1241
因为我们或许会伤到自己，
12:32
tearing tendons or ligaments.
332
740015
1692
撕裂肌腱或者韧带。
12:33
But the more we learn about
how that limiter functions,
how that limiter functions,
333
741707
3023
但是我们对于这个限制器如何运行知道得越多，
12:36
the more we learn how we can push it back
334
744730
1880
我们就对如何把它逆转一点
12:38
just a bit,
335
746610
1440
知道得越多，
12:40
in some cases by convincing the brain
336
748050
2432
例如通过以身体不会受伤
12:42
that the body won't be in mortal danger
337
750482
1774
来说服大脑
12:44
by pushing harder.
338
752256
1810
达到逆转更多的目的。
12:46
Endurance and ultra-endurance sports
339
754066
1619
持续性运动和长时间持续性运动
12:47
serve as a great example.
340
755685
1572
在这里作为例子。
12:49
Ultra-endurance was once thought to be harmful
341
757257
2122
长时间持续性运动曾被认为会对人的健康
12:51
to human health,
342
759379
1415
造成伤害，
12:52
but now we realize
343
760794
1418
但是现在我们意识到
12:54
that we have all these traits
344
762212
1096
我们有这些可以完美适应
12:55
that are perfect for ultra-endurance:
345
763308
3104
长时间持续性运动的特征：
12:58
no body fur and a glut of sweat glands
346
766412
2924
没有体毛和众多的汗腺
13:01
that keep us cool while running;
347
769336
1616
在跑步时保持降温；
13:03
narrow waists and long legs compared to our frames;
348
770952
3400
纤细的腰和长腿作为我们的结构；
13:06
large surface area of joints for shock absorption.
349
774352
2918
更大的关节表面积为了吸收震动。
13:09
We have an arch in our foot that acts like a spring,
350
777270
2734
我们的脚上有一个类似于弹簧的拱，
13:12
short toes that are better for pushing off
351
780004
2103
短的脚趾对于抓住树干而言更适合
13:14
than for grasping tree limbs,
352
782107
1674
蹬出，
13:15
and when we run,
353
783781
1127
并且在我们奔跑时，
13:17
we can turn our torso and our shoulders
354
784908
1525
我们可以转动我们的身体和肩膀
13:18
like this while keeping our heads straight.
355
786433
2044
如同保持头部向前一样。
13:20
Our primate cousins can't do that.
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我们的灵长类表亲们不能做到。
13:22
They have to run like this.
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他们需要像这样奔跑。
13:24
And we have big old butt muscles
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而且我们有着大块的臀部肌肉
13:26
that keep us upright while running.
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在奔跑时让我们保持笔直向前。
13:28
Have you ever looked at an ape's butt?
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你曾经看过一只古猿的臀部吗？
13:30
They have no buns because they don't run upright.
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他们没有臀丘因为他们不是笔直向前奔跑。
13:33
And as athletes have realized
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当运动员们理解到
13:34
that we're perfectly suited for ultra-endurance,
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我们完美适应长时间持续性运动，
13:37
they've taken on feats
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他们展示出在以前不可思议
13:38
that would have been unthinkable before,
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的技巧，
13:40
athletes like Spanish endurance racer Kílian Jornet.
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就如同西班牙长跑运动员克里安.琼尼特。
13:44
Here's Kílian running up the Matterhorn.
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这里是克里安.琼尼特在马拉松比赛上。
13:46
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
13:48
With a sweatshirt there tied around his waist.
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在他腰上缠着一条运动衫。
13:50
It's so steep he can't even run here.
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这里非常陡峭，他甚至不能到达。
13:52
He's pulling up on a rope.
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他正在拉起一根绳子。
13:54
This is a vertical ascent
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这里垂直上升
13:55
of more than 8,000 feet,
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超过8000英尺，
13:57
and Kílian went up and down
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克里安在三小时之内
13:59
in under three hours.
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从上到下。
14:01
Amazing.
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令人惊奇。
14:03
And talented though he is,
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尽管他是如此地天资出众，
14:04
Kílian is not a physiological freak.
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克里安并不是一个生理上的怪胎。
14:07
Now that he has done this,
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现在他做到了，
14:09
other athletes will follow,
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其他运动员也跟随着，
14:11
just as other athletes followed
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就像其他运动员跟随在
14:12
after Sir Roger Bannister
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罗杰.本尼斯特之后
14:14
ran under four minutes in the mile.
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在四分钟内跑完一英里。
14:16
Changing technology, changing genes,
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变化的科技，变化的基因，
14:18
and a changing mindset.
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以及变化的精神状态。
14:20
Innovation in sports,
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运动上的改革，
14:22
whether that's new track surfaces
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无论是新的跑道表面
14:23
or new swimming techniques,
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或是新的游泳科技，
14:25
the democratization of sport,
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运动的民主化，
14:27
the spread to new bodies
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对于新体型和新的人口
14:28
and to new populations around the world,
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在世界上的传播，
14:31
and imagination in sport,
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运动中的展望，
14:33
an understanding of what the human body
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对于人体极限
14:34
is truly capable of,
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的理解，
14:36
have conspired to make athletes stronger,
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对使运动员比以往更强，
14:38
faster, bolder,
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更快，更无畏，甚至更好
14:40
and better than ever.
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的策划。
14:42
Thank you very much.
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非常感谢。
14:45
(Applause)
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(掌声)
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
David Epstein - Sports science reporterDavid 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 speakerNow 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?
David Epstein | Speaker | TED.com