*Inhales deeply the scents of patriotism, exhaust fumes, and single-use plastic. Oh, and the most Olympic medals.*

It’s good to be back. 🇺🇸 

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Built Different 😤 

If there’s one thing I learned at the Olympics (there are probably many, actually), it’s that the best in the world are the best for numerous reasons: first and foremost is their extreme dedication to training the sport of their choice. But another not-inconsequential factor is genetics.

Attributing a portion of athletes’ success to genetics is by no means minimizing their efforts. If anything, it’s a compliment that they have found the sport their body is best built for and gone all in. Fully optimizing your training in a way that aligns with your genetic potential is the primary—and perhaps only—way for the most elite of the world to reach the podium. There’s a lesson for all of us in this.

Does the athlete choose the sport and come to look the way they do? Or does the sport choose the athlete once an individual who’s best built for an activity tries it out, excels, and invests in it?

As some examples, picture the largest weightlifters in the largest weight class. Their training has no doubt helped to shape their bodies and physiology. But they probably also have a natural propensity toward strength and size. Could they have been a long-distance road cyclist, an artistic swimmer, or a marathon runner? Perhaps. But would they be Olympic level? Not likely. 

On the other side of the same coin, picture the winners of the marathon. There’s clearly some genetic potential there that they’ve capitalized on to become the greatest in the world. Even if they had started young, could they also be top tier gymnasts, heavyweight wrestlers, or basketball or rugby players? I believe they could definitely be good. But maybe not good enough to be one of the best. 

Or, is there an elite swimmer out there hiding in the body of a child in poverty nowhere near a clean body of water or a swimming program in any school within 100 miles? What potential around the world is not being unlocked due to lack of access or resources? (That’s a major Olympic mission; don’t get me started on that soapbox.)

Most people can do most things if they want. But not everyone can do anything at the highest level. In order to reach world-class status, it takes the chocolate-and-peanut-butter-level match made in heaven of optimized genetics + optimized training. 

I, for one, am so glad that the Olympics is full of athletes who’ve figured this out. It allows us to bask in the greatest that humankind is physically capable of, and it’s impossible not to be inspired.

What was I made for?

Bring the analogy to yourself. In your experience with sport and exercise, is there something you naturally excelled at, or something you naturally didn’t? 

• Did your long wingspan and agility help you ball out on the court but make you clumsy on the gymnastics floor?

• Did your stout stature help you excel as a football linebacker but make you allergic to cross country? 

A question we may have all asked ourselves over the past few weeks is, “What Olympic sport would I actually even have the one-in-a-million shot to compete in?” Odds are, you’d have a better shot at some than others just based on genetics alone.

There are lessons to take from this. Most of us aren’t training to be the best in the world at a specific sport. If you’re trying to be healthy and active, you’re probably just training to live a reasonably long, very healthy life. Doing so requires far less specificity than Olympic training. But we can still capitalize on our strengths!

Another vitally important lesson from this is not just in the realm of performance, but in aesthetics.

You might have a “dream body,” or some celebrity you look at and say, “If only I could look like them, then I’d be happy.” Surprise! You have different genes! You’re very likely never going to look like them, no matter what you do!

Don’t let that discourage you; rather, let it encourage you. You can release the pressure to look like someone else that for some reason became your “ideal.” Once you let that go, you can focus (if you want) on looking like the ideal YOU. Because no one will ever look as good as you do at your best, happiest, and healthiest.

• You can probably always get or look “better,” but that doesn’t mean mimicing someone else. Being the best version of yourself is the most anyone should ever ask for!

There is always room for improvement, no matter what the goal (thus the name of this very newsletter). Just remember that improving doesn’t look like morphing yourself into somebody else. Only you can see, feel, and show what the improved you looks like.

Take some time to figure out what you’re built for. (If anyone has a “What Olympic sport could you compete in” Buzzfeed quiz, send it my way.) Try new and different things. Don’t only commit to one very narrow aspect of fitness, but feel the freedom and joy that comes from actually excelling at what you’re most naturally inclined to succeed at!

And if you make it to LA28 once you’ve found that sport, don’t forget who encouraged you first. (Me of course!)

✅ Take Action

Every newsletter's Take Action section will invite you to take small steps to improve your health. Recognizing that we all have different capabilities, I'll offer three different levels of action you can choose to take.

Level 1: Did the Olympics inspire you? What sports or events sparked your interest? Simply consider all the options; there are a lot more ways to be active out there than you may realize.

Level 2: You never know until you try. Dedicate a period of time to trying out new exercises, sports, etc. You might have a knack for it!

Level 3: I’m not here to direct your life. But if you’ve found your niche and know what you’re gifted at, why not drill down and really commit for awhile, just to see where it takes you? You can always return to a more well-rounded, balanced approach to fitness whenever you like.

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✍️ Drew's Picks:

• Still: 🔵 

• Obsessing: 🟡 

• Over: ⚫️ 

• The: 🟢 

• Olympics!: 🔴

• (Paralympics start in a couple weeks!)

Thankfully you don’t have to wait another four years for the next edition of this newsletter. See y’all next week!

Keep moving,

Drew

The content in Move to Improve is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. It is always a good idea to consult with a trusted health professional before making any major lifestyle changes that could have a significant impact on your health. This is not a medical resource, and any opinions and articles are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. They are not substitutes for consulting a qualified medical professional. Please think critically and take what I say with a grain of salt (aka don’t sue me).