Recently, a conversation that started on a podcast has been stirring up quite a buzz among the fitness community. The podcast, Muscle and Fitness, had a guest who stated that he believed African-Americans have better genetics for performance sports such as football, basketball, track and field, and bodybuilding. This statement, made by Fouad Abiad, immediately sparked a reaction from Chris Cormier, one of the hosts of the podcast, who brought this to attention and had a special guest, Johnny Jackson, on the show that day.
Johnny Jackson was a very strong bodybuilder, who was considered one of the top strongest athletes in the world, when comparing powerlifters, strongmen, and bodybuilders. He was known for his impressive strength and size, and this made him a great addition to the podcast to talk about the controversial topic at hand.
However, Fouad’s statement and delivery were not received well by everyone, especially African-American listeners. Fouad stated that while African-Americans might have better genetics for sports, there are other sports, such as tennis and hockey, where they have not performed as well. He further discussed that the way he framed the question might have pissed people off and that he did not want to sound racist, but he believes that African-Americans tend to be more high-volume lifters, while white guys tend to lift heavier weights.
This sparked a heated debate among the listeners, with some agreeing with Fouad and others completely disagreeing. Some argue that what defines someone being strong is lifting heavy weights for a lot of reps, while others argue that lifting heavy weights in general, with fewer reps, is what defines strength.
The discussion then shifted to the question of whether strength in the gym is defined by the amount of weight lifted or the number of reps done. Some argue that if a 250-pound bodybuilder can lift heavy weights, then he is strong, while others say that a bodybuilder who can rep a lot of weight for a lot of reps is also considered strong.
Chris, who brought the discussion to the forefront, interjected and added his thoughts on the matter. He said that strength is a very hard conversation to have, and it’s a very hard point to make, as everyone has different opinions on what strength means. He pointed out that there are plenty of athletes who can rep a lot of weight for a lot of reps and are considered strong, but there are also those who can lift extremely heavy weights for a few reps and are considered strong as well. This conversation has raised questions about the definition of strength and the role of genetics in sports performance.
While some believe that genetics plays a significant role, others argue that it’s the training style and hard work that determine one’s strength and success in sports. Regardless of where you stand on this issue, it’s important to remember that everyone has different opinions and that we should respect each other’s views.
