Are blacks superior genetically bodybuilding-wise?

[TropicalSunset]

Just going based on who the top pros have been over the past 20 years, you would have to say that like in basketball or footballs, black people just seem to have better genetics overall for it. Sure it is a generalization, but when you consider that Flex, Ronnie, Shawn Ray, Shawn Rhoden, Phil Heath, Dexter Jackson, Dillet, Kai, Cormier, Dennis James, Levrone.

Sure there are great white bodybuilders, but it does seem to me like black genetics once again make them superior in this sport. For a small segment of the population to dominate the sport like that is really something. And YES I am aware that a lot of the guys I listed are not 100% black, but it sure doesn't seem to hurt having some black genetics in you.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you see this trend continuing? Obviously with Kai and Phil on top right now and Shawn in third, it is hard to see it changing any time soon, but how do you explain this dominance by the black bodybuilders?

[RoroCwalker]

chicken ; high protein
no racial

On a serious note...it seems like they actually do have better genetics

[Deano87]

There is no trend. There never has been.
i.e. Arnold, Jay, Dorian. This thread came up not long ago, and Im pretty sure Olympia's were 50/50.
/thread.

[SammyJr]

i think they tend to have smaller waists and rounder muscle bellies, but you cans still be a great non-black bodybuilder

[JanesLastResort]

You'll find just as many successfull white bodybuilders as black. Even in amateur shows IMO.

But even if not the difference probably isn't that great. Yes blacks have superior genetics most of the time, but that alone doesn't win shows.

[bartosh]

i think they tend to have smaller waists and rounder muscle bellies, but you cans still be a great non-black bodybuilder

this is what i think. you can have mass/flow/a great physique being any race but i've never seen a white person have muscle bellies like heath, wheeler, etc

[Kiwi_]

this is what i think. you can have mass/flow/a great physique being any race but i've never seen a white person have muscle bellies like heath, wheeler, etc

This dude is pretty rounded



Then there's also guys like Strydom




Generally though imo it seems like black folk more often have thinner bones and rounder muscles than their white counterparts, and the naturally dark skin helps their overall presentation.

[bartosh]

This dude is pretty rounded



Generally though imo it seems like black folk more often have thinner bones and rounder muscles than their white counterparts, and the naturally dark skin helps their overall presentation.

guy 1) that's a first and thanks for showing me.
guy 2) still not that "pop" imo

edit: and it's more apparent from the back

[TropicalSunset]

Well that was my point. And even though Other than Jay, black bodybuilders have been winning since Dorian's time. And even if it were 50/50, that would prove the theory that they are superior, as with blacks being a minority, the ratio shouldn't be anywhere close to that, but white bodybuilders should be dominating.

[SammyJr]

I think I have round muscle bellies. hope to god I do lol. hehe i'd do anything to have that balloon muscle

this is what i think. you can have mass/flow/a great physique being any race but i've never seen a white person have muscle bellies like heath, wheeler, etc

yep.. peter molnar looks amazing tho and he's not black. super tiny waist tho

[FAN0FdaSport]

Well that was my point. And even though Other than Jay, black bodybuilders have been winning since Dorian's time. And even if it were 50/50, that would prove the theory that they are superior, as with blacks being a minority, the ratio shouldn't be anywhere close to that, but white bodybuilders should be dominating.

between jay and dorian, only ronnie won Olympias

[justinnnnn]

Well that was my point. And even though Other than Jay, black bodybuilders have been winning since Dorian's time. And even if it were 50/50, that would prove the theory that they are superior, as with blacks being a minority, the ratio shouldn't be anywhere close to that, but white bodybuilders should be dominating.

Interesting point.

[SLiX]

Blacks generally have better shape

In shear mass. Look at the white guys. Jay cutler. Art Atwood. Dennis wolf. Gunter. Marcus ruhl. Federov. Nasser. Flux. Lee priest. Dorian Etc

[TropicalSunset]

between jay and dorian, only ronnie won Olympias

Fair point, but since then we have had Dexter and Phil, who are black. And the bodybuilders most people are excited about in the future are also predominantly black......Cedric, Roelly, Rhoden.

[NVious]

On average yes. Especially West Africans.

[yummy22]

No good muscle building genetics exist in all different skin/cultural types w/e you want to call it.

You could make another interesting point that population wise blacks are more represented at the high level in bodybuilding but this would be more due to the culture of that community then 'better genetics'.

[flangmasterj]

No good muscle building genetics exist in all different skin/cultural types w/e you want to call it.

Agreed.

[flangmasterj]

Mustafa was one of the roundest dudes around.

[TropicalSunset]

You could make another interesting point that population wise blacks are more represented at the high level in bodybuilding but this would be more due to the culture of that community then 'better genetics'.

That is an interesting point. I wonder if it is true that black people work out more than white people. It would have to be very significant difference to account for the presence of so many top black bodybuilders. I feel like that wouldn't hold up if we actually examined it, but who knows.

[flangmasterj]

That is an interesting point. I wonder if it is true that black people work out more than white people. It would have to be very significant difference to account for the presence of so many top black bodybuilders. I feel like that wouldn't hold up if we actually examined it, but who knows.

Exactly. You have to take into account who actually takes up the sport and who has aspirations of reaching the high levels.

[TropicalSunset]

Exactly. You have to take into account who actually takes up the sport and who has aspirations of reaching the high levels.

So are you saying WAY more black people try to be professional bodybuilders. I find that hard to believe.

[weltweitefurcht]

Oh there is definitely a trend. I work in the medical field and we actually have different criteria for African-Americans when it comes to certain body composition indexes. It is just more common to find higher density of muscle fiber.

No different than having consistently different GFR levels to the point that we account for it during testing as a standard. (I'm not in the mood to explain GFR etc)

The fact is, there is exceptions in every race. You can find skinny Caucasians, very muscular Caucasians, tall people in a race known for short people, etc etc. But there are definitely trends that can be followed fairly well.

I am too lazy to go into the fascinating aspects of gene expression. There is interesting reasons why certain races do not perform well in cold sports compared to other races, and why some excel in sports where there is warmth.

With all that said, keep in mind that the genetic diversity between Africans of different areas in Africa are so diverse, that there are LESS genetic differences between a Caucasian and an Asian in comparison to two Africans from different countries in Africa, and sometimes even neighboring towns. (Yes I can cite the actual studies on that) So nothing is set in stone.

[gozz]

No they are not superior

[Street-Profit]

So are you saying WAY more black people try to be professional bodybuilders. I find that hard to believe.

Its hard to believe because it isnt true.

[TropicalSunset]

And as it was mentioned, West Africans are CRAZY genetically gifted. I know a few Nigerians and they all look like bodybuilders even though they don't even work out or do sports. Just built like a machine. And I know a few people from the Ivory Coast who are the same. Don't really know many white people who I have met who are like that and obviously I meet a lot more white people living in North America.

[rippedaspirer]

I remember watching a National Geographic documentary about prison life, they were focussing on a black who was in for life and had completed almost 7 years in prison he was suspected of murdering inmates and being a gang leader of sorts, but my point is the guy without his shirt on was looking so jacked round delts, washboard abs, huge striated chest and what not. And i don't think they serve protein powder or pre-workouts in prison. Even if we consider he lifts everyday his physique sans the nutrition was plane awesome.

[DPNZ]

Yeah, I don't think they serve pre-workouts on prison.

That's a safe bet.

[Street-Profit]

I remember watching a National Geographic documentary about prison life, they were focussing on a black who was in for life and had completed almost 7 years in prison he was suspected of murdering inmates and being a gang leader of sorts, but my point is the guy without his shirt on was looking so jacked round delts, washboard abs, huge striated chest and what not. And i don't think they serve protein powder or pre-workouts in prison. Even if we consider he lifts everyday his physique sans the nutrition was plane awesome.

In some FED joints people are known to gather a few items lol

[JohnSmeton]

all you can do is do your best, its unusefulto worry about this

according to statistics the people with the most muscle, back before people really weight trained originally came from west African and northern eruope. That said, just do your best you cant change your genetics however you can build an impressive body

[Boba_Bulk]

between jay and dorian, only ronnie won Olympias

LOL

In some FED joints people are known to gather a few items lol

What! I thought it was a proven fact that you could get jacked on a prison diet of skim milk, bread and bologna.