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

譯者: 杏儀 歐陽 審譯者: Geoff Chen

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

奧林匹克的格言是“Citius, Altius, Fortius”

Faster, Higher, Stronger.

意為 “更快、更高、更強”。

And athletes have fulfilled that motto rapidly.

而運動員們迅雷不及掩耳地做到這一格言。

The winner of the 2012 Olympic marathon

2012年奧林匹克馬拉松的冠軍記錄是

ran two hours and eight minutes.

兩小時八分鐘。

Had he been racing against the winner

如果讓這位2012年的馬拉松冠軍

of the 1904 Olympic marathon,

在1904年的奧林匹克馬拉松中競賽，

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

他要比當年的冠軍快一個半小時。

Now we all have this feeling

此時此刻，我們都覺得

that we're somehow just getting better

某程度上我們作為人類

在日漸一日地、勢不可擋地進步，

as a human race, inexorably progressing,

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

但這種進步，又並不像是在區區一世紀內

in a century.

就進化成另一個新物種的那種。

So what's going on here?

那麼到底是怎麼回事呢？

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

我想看看運動進步歷程的背後

this march of athletic progress.

到底藏著什麼秘密。

In 1936, Jesse Owens

1936年，傑西·歐文斯

held the world record in the 100 meters.

在一百米田徑中創下了新的世界紀錄。

Had Jesse Owens been racing last year

如果傑西·歐文斯參加了

in the world championships of the 100 meters,

去年的世界一百米田徑賽，

when Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt finished,

牙買加短跑運動員 尤賽恩·博爾特衝到終點時，

Owens would have still had 14 feet to go.

歐文斯離終點還有十四英尺。

That's a lot in sprinter land.

在短跑賽場上，十四英尺可不是小數目。

To give you a sense of how much it is,

為了讓大家感受一些其中的區別，

I want to share with you a demonstration

我想跟大家分享

conceived by sports scientist Ross Tucker.

運動科學家羅斯·德科 構思的一個範例。

Now picture the stadium last year

現在，請大家想像自己身處

at the world championships of the 100 meters:

去年世界杯百米錦標賽的賽場：

thousands of fans waiting with baited breath

成千上萬位運動迷屏住呼吸，

to see Usain Bolt, the fastest man in history;

等候看見尤賽恩·博爾特 這位歷史上最快的人；

flashbulbs popping as the nine fastest men in the world

閃光燈奮然驟現，只見世界上最快的九個人

coil themselves into their blocks.

現身於他們各自的起跑器旁。

And I want you to pretend

我要大家想像

that Jesse Owens is in that race.

傑西·歐文斯也在這九個人當中。

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

現在，閉上眼睛，想像一下這場比賽。

Bang! The gun goes off.

梆！槍聲一響。

An American sprinter jumps out to the front.

一名美國短跑運動員一下就躍到前列。

Usain Bolt starts to catch him.

尤賽恩·博爾特開始追上這位運動員。

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

尤賽恩·博爾特超越了他， 每位運動員衝線終點時，

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

你都會聽到“嗶”一聲。

(Beeps)

（”嗶“）

That's the entire finish of the race.

然後整場比賽就結束了。

You can open your eyes now.

現在大家可以睜開雙眼。

That first beep was Usain Bolt.

第一聲“嗶”是，尤賽恩·博爾特。

That last beep was Jesse Owens.

最後一聲“嗶”，是傑西·歐文斯。

Listen to it again.

再聽一次。

(Beeps)

（“嗶”）

When you think of it like that,

這樣聽來，

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

是不是覺得差別不大？

And then consider that Usain Bolt started

那麼想一下，尤賽恩·博爾特起步時

by propelling himself out of blocks

腳下有起跑器

down a specially fabricated carpet

將他推向特製的地面地毯，

designed to allow him to travel

這種地毯的設計允許他

as fast as humanly possible.

以人類所能達到的最快速度奔跑。

Jesse Owens, on the other hand,

而傑西·歐文斯呢，

ran on cinders, the ash from burnt wood,

則在煤渣路上跑， 盡是木頭焚燒後剩下的灰渣，

and that soft surface stole far more energy

而那種柔軟的路面在他跑步的過程中，

from his legs as he ran.

吞噬了他腿上大量的精力。

Rather than blocks, Jesse Owens had a gardening trowel

傑西·歐文斯沒有起跑器， 只有一把種花用的泥鏟，

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

他只能用這把泥鏟 在起跑的煤渣路上挖坑。

Biomechanical analysis of the speed

對歐文斯運動關節速度 的生理力學分析顯示

of Owens' joints shows that had been running

如果歐文斯的關節跑步接觸面

on the same surface as Bolt,

能夠跟博爾特的一樣，

he wouldn't have been 14 feet behind,

歐文斯就不會被拋在十四英尺外，

he would have been within one stride.

而是只差一步之遙就能趕上博爾特。

Rather than the last beep,

歐文斯不會是最後的一“嗶”，

Owens would have been the second beep.

而是第二“嗶”。

Listen to it again.

再聽一次。

(Beeps)

（“嗶”）

That's the difference track surface technology has made,

這就是田徑跑道接觸面 技術進步所產生的差別，

and it's done it throughout the running world.

而這一技術在賽跑界比比皆是。

Consider a longer event.

想一個時間更長的運動時間。

In 1954, Sir Roger Bannister

1954年的羅傑·班尼斯特爵士

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

是人類歷史上第一個 在四分鐘內跑完一英里的人。

Nowadays, college kids do that every year.

現在，每年都有大學生達到這一紀錄。

On rare occasions, a high school kid does it.

偶爾，一個高中生也可以做到。

As of the end of last year,

截至去年年底

1,314 men

有一千三百一十四個人

had run under four minutes in the mile,

已經可以在四分鐘內跑完一英里，

but like Jesse Owens,

但是跟傑西·歐文斯一樣，

Sir Roger Bannister ran on soft cinders

羅傑·班尼斯特爵士跑的是軟煤渣路，

that stole far more energy from his legs

他腿部的力量都被這煤渣路吞耗了，

than the synthetic tracks of today.

不能與今日的塑膠跑道相比。

So I consulted biomechanics experts

我因此找了一些生理力學專家

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

諮詢在煤渣路上跑步

than synthetic tracks,

到底比在塑膠跑道慢多少，

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

他們一致認為，慢1.5%。

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

因此，如果你按1.5%的算法

to every man who ran his sub-four mile

來計算每位在塑膠跑道上

on a synthetic track,

在四分鐘內完成了一英里的速度，

this is what happens.

這就是呈現的結果。

Only 530 are left.

只剩下五百三十人。

If you look at it from that perspective,

如果你從這個角度來看的話，

fewer than ten new men per [year]

每年只有不到十個人

have joined the sub-four mile club

能夠跟隨羅傑·班尼斯特爵士

since Sir Roger Bannister.

加入這個“四分鐘內一英里“俱樂部。

Now, 530 is a lot more than one,

現在，五百三十人遠比一個人多，

and that's partly because there are many more people

其中的部分原因是，

training today and they're training more intelligently.

現在越來越多人接受訓練， 而且訓練相當有技巧。

Even college kids are professional in their training

跟羅傑·班尼斯特爵士相比，

大學生的訓練也要比他的專業，

compared to Sir Roger Bannister,

who trained for 45 minutes at a time

班尼斯特爵士當年在醫學院 上完婦科課之後才去訓練，

while he ditched gynecology lectures in med school.

而且每次只是訓練四十五分鐘。

And that guy who won the 1904 Olympic marathon

贏得1904年奧林匹克馬拉松賽的那位仁兄

in three in a half hours,

在半小時內跑完三英里，

that guy was drinking rat poison and brandy

那位仁兄是一邊喝著老鼠藥和白蘭地，

while he ran along the course.

一邊跑完整程馬拉松。

That was his idea of a performance-enhancing drug.

那些就是他所謂的增強表現藥。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Clearly, athletes have gotten more savvy

相比以前，現在的運動員對增強表現的藥物

about performance-enhancing drugs as well,

顯然已經更加精通，

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

而這有時也會使某些 運動顯示出差距變化，

but technology has made a difference in all sports,

但是科技在所有運動領域中 創造差距變化，

from faster skis to lighter shoes.

例如速度更快的雪橇、更加輕便的鞋子。

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

我們看看百米自由泳的記錄。

The record is always trending downward,

這個記錄一直往下降，

but it's punctuated by these steep cliffs.

但卻不時出現這些突然峭降。

This first cliff, in 1956, is the introduction

第一次的峭降是在1956年

第一次引入翻騰轉體技巧。

of the flip turn.

Rather than stopping and turning around,

運動員不再需要停止再轉身，

athletes could somersault under the water

而是可以在水上一百八十度轉體，

and get going right away in the opposite direction.

往反方向繼續前游。

This second cliff, the introduction of gutters

第二次的峭降，當時引入了水槽設計，

on the side of the pool

在游泳池四周的水槽

that allows water to splash off,

允許水濺出，

rather than becoming turbulence

而不是形成漩渦，

that impedes the swimmers as they race.

給運動員在比賽中造成阻礙。

This final cliff,

最後一次峭降，

the introduction of full-body

當時引入了

and low-friction swimsuits.

低摩擦力的全身泳衣。

Throughout sports, technology has changed the face of performance.

在運動歷程中， 科技已經為運動性能改頭換面。

In 1972, Eddy Merckx set the record

1972年，艾迪·莫克斯

for the longest distance cycled in one hour

創下了一小時內最長的單車行程記錄

at 30 miles, 3,774 feet.

三十英里三千七百七十四英尺。

Now that record improved and improved

這個記錄在不斷地更新再更新，

as bicycles improved and became more aerodynamic

自行車不斷地在更新，更加符合空氣動力學，

all the way until 1996,

一直到了1996年，

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

當時的記錄是三十五英里一千五百三十一英尺，

nearly five miles farther

跟1972年的艾迪·莫克斯相比，

than Eddy Merckx cycled in 1972.

幾乎超出五英里。

But then in 2000, the International Cycling Union

但是在2000年，國際自行車聯盟決定

decreed that anyone who wanted to hold that record

任何想要打破這個記錄的人

had to do so with essentially the same equipment

所使用的設備必須與1972年

that Eddy Merckx used in 1972.

艾迪·莫克斯所使用的基本一致。

Where does the record stand today?

今日這個記錄又是多少？

30 miles, 4,657 feet,

三十英里四千六百五十七英尺，

a grand total of 883 feet

比起四個世紀之前

艾迪·莫克斯所騎的行程

farther than Eddy Merckx cycled

不過多出整整八百八十三英尺。

more than four decades ago.

Essentially the entire improvement in this record

這一記錄的突破，

was due to technology.

基本源於科技。

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

但是，科技並不是推使 運動員前進的唯一因素。

While indeed we haven't evolved

的確，我們尚未在一個世紀內

into a new species in a century,

完全進化成另外一個新物種，

the gene pool within competitive sports

但是競賽運動的基因庫

most certainly has changed.

很肯定已經發生了變化。

In the early half of the 20th century,

在二十世紀上半葉，

physical education instructors and coaches

體育教育的指導員和教練都認為

had the idea that the average body type

平均的身體類型

was the best for all athletic endeavors:

是所有運動的最適宜的體型：

medium height, medium weight, no matter the sport.

中等身高、中等體重， 無論是對何種運動而言。

And this showed in athletes' bodies.

這在運動員的體態上可以體現。

In the 1920s, the average elite high-jumper

20世紀20年代，平均優秀跳高運動員

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

跟平均優秀鉛球選手 有完全一樣的體型。

But as that idea started to fade away,

但是這樣的想法開始消失，

as sports scientists and coaches realized that

因為運動科學家和教練發現

rather than the average body type,

平均身體體型並非是最好的，

you want highly specialized bodies

你需要的是

專門適合某種運動類型的體型，

that fit into certain athletic niches,

a form of artificial selection took place,

並且開始了某種人為的篩選，

a self-sorting for bodies that fit certain sports,

自我篩選出適合某種運動的體型，

and athletes' bodies became more different from one another.

而不同運動員的體型差距越來越大。

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

時至今日，平均優秀跳高運動員的體型

跟平均優秀鉛球選手的體型不再一樣，

the average elite shot-putter

is two and a half inches taller

後者比前者要高2.5英寸，

and 130 pounds heavier.

並且重130磅。

And this happened throughout the sports world.

而這樣的事情在運動界比比皆是。

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

事實上，如果你要畫一張身高體重對照表，

one data point for each of two dozen sports

為二十世紀上半葉的二十四種運動

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

畫出各自的數據點， 則會得到這樣的一張圖。

There's some dispersal,

稍微呈現離散，

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

但還是圍繞著平均體型而出現。

Then that idea started to go away,

然後這樣的想法開始消失，

and at the same time, digital technology --

與此同時，數位科技——

first radio, then television and the Internet --

首先是無線電台，然後是電視、網路——

gave millions, or in some cases billions, of people

向數百萬人或者數十億人

a ticket to consume elite sports performance.

提供了消費精英運動表演的門票。

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

得到金錢獎勵以及名望榮譽 的運動員直線上升，

and it tipped toward the tiny upper echelon of performance.

並且漸漸擠向性能表現的頂端。

It accelerated the artificial selection for specialized bodies.

這種情況加速了專門合適體型的人為挑選。

And if you plot a data point for these same

如果你要為今日同樣的二十四類運動

two dozen sports today, it looks like this.

畫一張數據點表的話， 看上去會是這樣（藍色部分）。

The athletes' bodies have gotten

運動員的體型

much more different from one another.

已經大大地拉開差距。

And because this chart looks like the charts

正因為這張圖看上去

that show the expanding universe,

與顯示宇宙擴展的圖相似，

with the galaxies flying away from one another,

就像不同的星系飛離另外其他星系一樣，

the scientists who discovered it call it

發現這張圖的科學家把這張圖命名為

"The Big Bang of Body Types."

“體型大爆炸”。

In sports where height is prized, like basketball,

在重視身高的運動中，例如籃球，

the tall athletes got taller.

高的運動員會越來越高。

In 1983, the National Basketball Association

1983年國家籃球協會（NBA）

signed a groundbreaking agreement

簽訂了一份具有歷史性意義的協議，

making players partners in the league,

允許選手加入聯盟，

entitled to shares of ticket revenues

能夠分享門票收益

and television contracts.

和電視合約收益。

Suddenly, anybody who could be an NBA player

霎時間，任何可能成為NBA選手的人

wanted to be,

都想成為NBA選手，

and teams started scouring the globe

而籃球隊也開始在全球搜索，

for the bodies that could help them win championships.

尋找可以幫助他們贏得冠軍的體型。

Almost overnight,

一夜間，

the proportion of men in the NBA

NBA中

who are at least seven feet tall doubled

至少有七尺高的人數比例

to 10 percent.

翻倍到10%。

Today, one in 10 men in the NBA

今日，NBA中，十個人

is at least seven feet tall,

就有一個至少有七尺高，

but a seven-foot-tall man is incredibly rare

但是在大眾人口當中，

in the general population --

七尺高的男人是相當少見的——

so rare that if you know an American man

少見的程度是，如果你認識一個美國男人

between the ages of 20 and 40

他剛好在二十歲到四十歲之間，

who is at least seven feet tall,

又剛好至少有七尺高，

there's a 17 percent chance

那麼就有17%的可能性

he's in the NBA right now.

他現在就是NBA的人。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

That is, find six honest seven footers,

也就是說，隨意找七位老實的七尺高人

one is in the NBA right now.

就有一個在NBA工作。

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

NBA選手體型的獨特之處不僅如此。

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

這是列奧納多·達·芬奇的“維特魯威人”，

the ideal proportions,

擁有最理想的體態比例，

with arm span equal to height.

臂長與身高相等。

My arm span is exactly equal to my height.

我的臂長與身高剛剛相等。

Yours is probably very nearly so.

大家的也大概一樣。

But not the average NBA player.

但是一般的NBA選手卻不是這樣。

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

平均的NBA選手身高約六尺七寸，

with arms that are seven feet long.

但手臂有七尺長。

Not only are NBA players ridiculously tall,

NBA選手不僅高得離譜，

they are ludicrously long.

而且還長得荒唐。

Had Leonardo wanted to draw

如果當初里奧納多想要畫的

the Vitruvian NBA Player,

是維特魯威NBA選手，

he would have needed a rectangle and an ellipse,

他估計要用長方形和橢圓，

not a circle and a square.

而不是圓形和正方形。

So in sports where large size is prized,

因此那些重視體型的運動裡面，

the large athletes have gotten larger.

體型大的運動員已經越變越大了。

Conversely, in sports where diminutive stature is an advantage,

相對而言，在小巧體型佔優勢的運動裡面，

the small athletes got smaller.

小巧的運動員就越變越小。

The average elite female gymnast

平均優秀女體操運動員

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

在過去三十年內

就從五尺三寸縮水到四尺九寸，

over the last 30 years,

all the better for their power-to-weight ratio

更加符合他們的力量—體重比例，

and for spinning in the air.

也更加適合在空中旋轉。

And while the large got larger

因此體型大的運動員越來越大，

and the small got smaller,

體型小巧的就越來越小，

the weird got weirder.

而體型怪異的就越長越怪。

The average length of the forearm

水球運動員的前臂的平均長度

of a water polo player in relation

跟他們的整只手臂相比

to their total arm got longer,

變得更加長了，

all the better for a forceful throwing whip.

這樣更加容易進行有力擊打。

And as the large got larger,

正如體型大的運動員越來越大，

small got smaller, and the weird weirder.

體型小巧的就越來越小， 體型怪異的就越長越怪。

In swimming, the ideal body type

在游泳中，理想的體型是

is a long torso and short legs.

軀體長、雙腿短。

It's like the long hull of a canoe

這就正如獨木舟

for speed over the water.

船體長就可以在水中快速行走。

And the opposite is advantageous in running.

而在跑步運動中則恰恰相反。

You want long legs and a short torso.

跑步需要的是長腿短軀。

And this shows in athletes' bodies today.

而這已體現在運動員的體型上來。

Here you see Michael Phelps,

這裡你看見的是邁克爾·菲爾普斯，

the greatest swimmer in history,

歷史上最偉大的游泳員，

standing next to Hicham El Guerrouj,

旁邊站的是希查姆·艾爾·奎羅伊，

the world record holder in the mile.

世界一英里田徑紀錄保持者。

These men are seven inches different in height,

這兩位男士身高相差七寸

but because of the body types

但正因為他們的體型

advantaged in their sports,

使他們在運動中獲得優勢，

they wear the same length pants.

他們穿的是同樣長度的褲子。

Seven inches difference in height,

身高相差七寸，

these men have the same length legs.

但卻有同樣長的腿。

Now in some cases, the search for bodies

有時候，為了尋找

that could push athletic performance forward

能夠優化運動表現的體型，

ended up introducing into the competitive world

結果會把一些之前 沒有參加過運動競賽的人群

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

帶進這個運動競賽世界裡，

like Kenyan distance runners.

比如肯亞的中、長跑運動員。

We think of Kenyans as being great marathoners.

我們認為肯亞人 是偉大的馬拉松運動員，

Kenyans think of the Kalenjin tribe

而肯亞人則認為卡倫津部落的人

as being great marathoners.

才是偉大的馬拉松運動員。

The Kalenjin make up just 12 percent

卡倫津部落的人口

of the Kenyan population

僅佔肯亞人口的12%，

but the vast majority of elite runners.

但大部分的卡倫津都是出世的奔跑者，

And they happen, on average,

他們剛好都有

to have a certain unique physiology:

獨特的生理機能：

legs that are very long

他們的腿相當長

and very thin at their extremity,

同時又相當瘦，

and this is because they have their ancestry

這是因為他們的祖先

at very low latitude

生活在緯度相當低、

in a very hot and dry climate,

溫度相當高、空氣相當乾燥的氣候裡，

and an evolutionary adaptation to that

作為進化適應的調整，

is limbs that are very long

他們的腿相當相當的長

and very thin at the extremity

也相當相當的瘦，

for cooling purposes.

目的是為了給身體降溫。

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

其中的原理，跟水箱長長的冷卻管一樣，

to increase surface area compared to volume

目的是為了給流量增加表層接觸面，

to let heat out,

散發熱量，

and because the leg is like a pendulum,

由於雙腿就像鐘擺，

the longer and thinner it is at the extremity,

越長越瘦，

the more energy-efficient it is to swing.

擺起來就越能節省能耗。

To put Kalenjin running success in perspective,

為了理解卡倫津田徑的成功，

consider that 17 American men in history

大家可以想想， 歷史上有十七名美國人

have run faster than two hours and 10 minutes

在兩小時十分鐘內

in the marathon.

完成馬拉松賽。

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

這速度是每英里四分鐘五十八秒。

Thirty-two Kalenjin men did that last October.

去年十月份就有三十二位 卡倫津人達到這速度。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

That's from a source population the size

這相當於在種源群落內

of metropolitan Atlanta.

擁有亞特蘭大的大都市規模。

Still, even changing technology

但是科技帶給運動的改變

and the changing gene pool in sports

以及基因庫帶給運動的改變

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

都不是運動表現中所有變化的主要因素。

Athletes have a different mindset than they once did.

現在的運動員現在的 心理想法與以往截然不同。

Have you ever seen in a movie when someone gets

大家看電影的時候

an electrical shock

有沒有曾經看過人遭受電擊

and they're thrown across a room?

被拋到房子的另一邊的情景？

There's no explosion there.

其實這並不是爆炸。

What's happening when that happens is that

其實在遭受電擊時，

the electrical impulse is causing

電脈衝使得

all their muscle fibers to twitch at once,

人所有的肌肉纖維瞬間扭曲，

and they're throwing themselves across the room.

然後他們把自己拋到房間的另一頭。

They're essentially jumping.

實質上他們是在跳躍。

That's the power

這就是

that's contained in the human body.

蘊藏在人類體內的力量。

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

但是一般情況下 我們基本不能使用全部的力量。

Our brain acts as a limiter,

我們的大腦就像一個限制器，

preventing us from accessing all of our physical resources,

阻止我們不讓我們 使用我們體內的所有資源，

because we might hurt ourselves,

因為我們可能會因此傷害到自己，

tearing tendons or ligaments.

把肌腱或韌帶扭斷。

But the more we learn about how that limiter functions,

但是我們越是知道 這個限制器的運作方式

the more we learn how we can push it back

我們就越是知道 我們怎樣才能將這個限制器

just a bit,

推開一點，

in some cases by convincing the brain

有時候通過說服大腦，

that the body won't be in mortal danger

身體再推向極端一點，

by pushing harder.

也不會受到致命的危險，

Endurance and ultra-endurance sports

耐力運動和極端耐力運動

serve as a great example.

就是一個很好的例子。

Ultra-endurance was once thought to be harmful

極端耐力運動曾經被認為

to human health,

會給人類健康帶來危害，

but now we realize

但是現在我們意識到

that we have all these traits

我們有各種特性

that are perfect for ultra-endurance:

來進行這些極端耐力運動：

no body fur and a glut of sweat glands

我們的身體沒有皮毛，卻有一整套汗腺，

that keep us cool while running;

這樣我們就可以在奔跑時冷卻體溫；

narrow waists and long legs compared to our frames;

與我們的肢體相比， 相對細窄的腰和長長的腿；

large surface area of joints for shock absorption.

大面積關節可以吸收震動。

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

我們腳上有彈簧一樣的腳踝，

short toes that are better for pushing off

短腳趾更加適合推動

than for grasping tree limbs,

而不是扣緊樹枝，

and when we run,

當我們奔跑時，

we can turn our torso and our shoulders

我們可以這樣轉動我們的軀幹和肩膀

like this while keeping our heads straight.

又可以同時保持頭部向前。

Our primate cousins can't do that.

我們的靈長類表親就做不到這點。

They have to run like this.

牠們只能這樣跑。

And we have big old butt muscles

我們還有大大的股肌

that keep us upright while running.

讓我們可以在奔跑時保持直立。

Have you ever looked at an ape's butt?

你有沒有見過猿的臀部？

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

牠們沒有臀部，因為牠們不能直立奔跑。

And as athletes have realized

運動員意識到

that we're perfectly suited for ultra-endurance,

我們十分適合做極端耐力運動，

they've taken on feats

他們已經開始做一些

that would have been unthinkable before,

以前絕對想都不敢想的壯舉，

athletes like Spanish endurance racer Kílian Jornet.

譬如西班牙的耐力運動競技員基李安·左內。

Here's Kílian running up the Matterhorn.

這是基李安跑馬拉松。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

With a sweatshirt there tied around his waist.

他腰間綁著這件運動衫。

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

這裡相當陡峭，他根本就不能在那裡跑。

He's pulling up on a rope.

他現在在拉著繩索向上爬。

This is a vertical ascent

他要垂直攀爬

of more than 8,000 feet,

至少八千尺，

and Kílian went up and down

而基李安上去下來

in under three hours.

花了不到三小時。

Amazing.

太神奇了。

And talented though he is,

雖然基李安很有才，

Kílian is not a physiological freak.

但是他不是生理怪人。

Now that he has done this,

既然他現在已經完成這一壯舉，

other athletes will follow,

其他運動員也會跟隨他的腳步，

just as other athletes followed

正如其他運動員跟隨了

after Sir Roger Bannister

羅傑·班尼斯特爵士的腳步

ran under four minutes in the mile.

在四分鐘內跑完一英里。

Changing technology, changing genes,

不斷改變的科技、不斷改變的基因、

and a changing mindset.

不斷改變的思想。

Innovation in sports,

運動的創新——

whether that's new track surfaces

不管是跑道表面，

or new swimming techniques,

還是新的游泳技巧，

the democratization of sport,

運動的民主化——

the spread to new bodies

向新體型、

and to new populations around the world,

全球新人口的傳播，

and imagination in sport,

和運動的想像力——

an understanding of what the human body

理解人類身體

is truly capable of,

真正的能耐，

have conspired to make athletes stronger,

這些都已經共同 協力使得運動員

faster, bolder,

比從前更強、更快、

更大膽、更好。

and better than ever.

Thank you very much.

非常感謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）