How to win a gold medal at the Olympics

The famous (among exercise physiologists) exercise physiologist Per Olaf Åstrand once answered the question, “How does someone become and Olympic champion” this way: Pick the right parents! Of course, talent and skill developed through years of dedicated training are essential, but having the right genetics is a prerequisite for athletic performance at the elite level. My Health & Fitness column in the Aiken Standard this week explores the adaptations to training and the importance of genetics in making an Olympic-level athlete.