Comments on: Ancient Athenian athletes more fit than elite athletes of today

By: Nean

Nean — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 01:28:50 +0000

Um, well, DUH!! What exactly were they expecting to find with this? Certainly men who rowed these boats for hours a day, days on end etc would be equal to elite athletes. If your navy’s success depended on rowing, would you not take pains to have good ones and keep them trained?

Back to that old bias that somehow we modern humans are significantly better than the genetically identical humans of old.

Hi Dean–

Good point.

Best–

MRE�

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 20:18:51 +0000

How reliable are the classical text that are being used as records of the times etc. Are they stories, which might exaggerate the feats they describe? Were they efforts to record accurately, i.e., race results etc.? Or were they something in between, casual observations?

Hi Tony–

I don’t have a clue.� I’ll put your comment up and maybe one of the readers will know the answer.

Cheers–

MRE�

By: Scott Kustes

Scott Kustes — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 12:02:39 +0000

In reply to David, the men of hunter-gatherer tribes are also found to be in “elite athlete” condition. They can run long distances in times similar to those of our top marathoners. They can pick up animals that few Americans could and carry them miles. Athleticism is merely rediscovering what the body has evolved to do and using it for sport.

Hi Scott–

Thanks for the info.� I would recommend a book called The Paleolithic Prescription written about 20 years ago by an anthroplogist and physician that describes the unbelievable feats early man could perform.� Unfortunately, the authors took the data on early man’s diet and tried to squeeze it into the low-carb diet mold that held sway at that time.� So ignore the dietary advice, but read the rest of the book.� It’s truly fascinating.� It’s out of print now, but can be easily found from online book dealers.

Cheers–

MRE�

By: David LaCivita

David LaCivita — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 03:31:41 +0000

Weren’t the rowers in the past slaves? Do you think some of their drive was just to stay alive or at least not beaten. Good incentive to work out.

Hi Dave–

I don’t know.� I’m not an historian of ancient Greece, so I don’t know if the rowers were slaves or Athenians.� It probably wouldn’t have anything to do with their conditioning, though.

Cheers–

MRE�

By: Lynne

Lynne — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 01:53:38 +0000

Way back when he was a teenager, my hubby was a top state level swimmer – trained twice a day, held records etc. What did he eat? Steak for breakfast, steak for lunch (he lived right near his school & came home for lunch), steak for dinner. Sure he ate potatoes & bread, but with a piece of steak you couldn’t jump over. His mum knew that you fed athletes with protein. I have photos & there was not an ounce of fat on him and he tells me he used to swim a mile of butterfly “just for fun” in addition to all his other training!

Hi Lynne–

Thanks for the report.

Best–

MRE�

By: helen

helen — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 23:21:43 +0000

well I’m not surprised by that at all just look at what our athletes eat today ………..carbs for energy !!
back then & even 40 years ago in all our modern sports they loaded up on steak or eggs before a match not spagehtti. I read a article where Margaret Court a famous Aussie tennis player said she was fitter in the 60’s than any of the female tennis players these days & when you think of it she probably was. Then saturated fat & meat were not the evil 2 back then. Protein & fat for energy not carbs.

Hi Helen–

Precisely!

Cheers–

MRE�