Why some athletes got away without lifting or squatting

[farzamk]

Seen posts about guys like Kim Collins getting away without lifting, or Carl Lewis occasionally lifting, or how about Michael Johnson who is the greatest 200/400m runner of all time not squatting?

Well we need to look at these athletes in a different way. World class athletes have world class genetics, many will have a high level of muscle elasticity (elastic strength) and are built differently. Lewis + a 600 pound squat would equal high 9.7s, a little bit better performance. Johnson (Michael, not Ben) didn't need to squat. The 200 or the 400 doesnt need explosive strength, it needs max velocity speed and speed endurance, 2 of which Michael Johnson spent a large time developing and was naturally VERY gifted.

In fact Johnson's leg turnover speed may well in fact be the best one ever, he not only spent a large bulk of his training working on agility ladders, and the fast leg drill but as a kid was also short strided.

He didn't do plyometrics either, he had the genetics to cover for it and he considered running itself as good enough for plyos. He did lift but didn't squat. He did do cleans so he got more than enough power benefits from the weights he did for his 200.

Now question here is, Johnson + more powerful and bigger stride = sub 19/43 in 200/400? No way. Biomechanically his exceptional leg turnover speed + a bigger stride wouldnt give him anything more, he was suited for his body. Again we come back to genetics.

Looking at other guys like Walter Dix, Kim Collins and etc. these guys are good for their bodies. They dont need to be doing more, they could maximise their potential on the start and accel. by doing more cleans and squats, and that WOULD make them better.

Example is Tyson Gay, after starting start practice with Jon Drummond his start improved which let him come to 9.8 regular zone, he has been doing squats and cleans as he wasnt doing much work on this previously.

Carl Lewis another example was gifted with speed and spent a lot of time developing his fluid like sprint mechanics which allowed for perfect max speed. As I said before he had room for improvement on the drive phase, much of a difference? Not too much, few hundreths on average.

Lets not forget that these guys mentioned DO take variety of drugs. Not all is the old dianabol and testosterone to get big and strong, variety of stimulants and excuses to cover up for them when they get caught. This allows for a quicker start and quicker neural response which allows for better accel.

So think about it next time you think the average athlete should be following the routines of a few exceptional athletes in history.

[killermony]

in other words if your joe smoe and don't have world class genetics and you want to reach your potential then you need to lift. also the top athletes that don't lift would probably be better if they lifted, because it can help anyone, even if it is by just a small amount. they'll be world calss with or wth out lifting, but could always imporve just my opinion.

[RAW87]

Even if you can Squat 600, you need to have very rare genetics to be a world class athlete.

[farzamk]

Even if you can Squat 600, you need to have very rare genetics to be a world class athlete.

ya you do, however world class genetics are also different too, giving them different bodies.

[mccoy19]

Seen posts about guys like Kim Collins getting away without lifting, or Carl Lewis occasionally lifting, or how about Michael Johnson who is the greatest 200/400m runner of all time not squatting?

Well we need to look at these athletes in a different way. World class athletes have world class genetics, many will have a high level of muscle elasticity (elastic strength) and are built differently. Lewis + a 600 pound squat would equal high 9.7s, a little bit better performance. Johnson (Michael, not Ben) didn't need to squat. The 200 or the 400 doesnt need explosive strength, it needs max velocity speed and speed endurance, 2 of which Michael Johnson spent a large time developing and was naturally VERY gifted.

In fact Johnson's leg turnover speed may well in fact be the best one ever, he not only spent a large bulk of his training working on agility ladders, and the fast leg drill but as a kid was also short strided.

He didn't do plyometrics either, he had the genetics to cover for it and he considered running itself as good enough for plyos. He did lift but didn't squat. He did do cleans so he got more than enough power benefits from the weights he did for his 200.

Now question here is, Johnson + more powerful and bigger stride = sub 19/43 in 200/400? No way. Biomechanically his exceptional leg turnover speed + a bigger stride wouldnt give him anything more, he was suited for his body. Again we come back to genetics.

Looking at other guys like Walter Dix, Kim Collins and etc. these guys are good for their bodies. They dont need to be doing more, they could maximise their potential on the start and accel. by doing more cleans and squats, and that WOULD make them better.

Example is Tyson Gay, after starting start practice with Jon Drummond his start improved which let him come to 9.8 regular zone, he has been doing squats and cleans as he wasnt doing much work on this previously.

Carl Lewis another example was gifted with speed and spent a lot of time developing his fluid like sprint mechanics which allowed for perfect max speed. As I said before he had room for improvement on the drive phase, much of a difference? Not too much, few hundreths on average.

Lets not forget that these guys mentioned DO take variety of drugs. Not all is the old dianabol and testosterone to get big and strong, variety of stimulants and excuses to cover up for them when they get caught. This allows for a quicker start and quicker neural response which allows for better accel.

So think about it next time you think the average athlete should be following the routines of a few exceptional athletes in history.

Great post, very informative and interesting to read!!