The conclusions that are drawn from black athletes dominating the 100m final go a long way to explaining attitudes in wider society, argues Matthew Syed.
The 100m final at the World Athletics Championships this weekend will be won by a black athlete.
Every winner of the 100m since the inaugural event in 1983 has been black, as has every finalist from the last 10 championships with the solitary exception of Matic Osovnikar of Slovakia, who finished seventh in 2007.
Assuming that this success is driven by genes rather than environment, there is a rather obvious inference to make - black people are naturally better sprinters than white people. Indeed, it is an inference that seems obligatory, barring considerations of political correctness. Also does this assumption have wider reaching impact outside the sports world, as this BBC article will show.
BBC News - Is it wrong to note 100m winners are always black?
However there is another article that speaks of this calls it the African running phenomenon discounts the basis of genetic advantage as being the reason why blacks dominate these events. What are your thoughts.
African Running Phenomenon
The 100m final at the World Athletics Championships this weekend will be won by a black athlete.
Every winner of the 100m since the inaugural event in 1983 has been black, as has every finalist from the last 10 championships with the solitary exception of Matic Osovnikar of Slovakia, who finished seventh in 2007.
Assuming that this success is driven by genes rather than environment, there is a rather obvious inference to make - black people are naturally better sprinters than white people. Indeed, it is an inference that seems obligatory, barring considerations of political correctness. Also does this assumption have wider reaching impact outside the sports world, as this BBC article will show.
BBC News - Is it wrong to note 100m winners are always black?
However there is another article that speaks of this calls it the African running phenomenon discounts the basis of genetic advantage as being the reason why blacks dominate these events. What are your thoughts.
African Running Phenomenon