Body types

There are three extremes of body types.

Endomorph

 A pear shaped body

 A rounded head
 Wide hips and shoulders
 Wider front to back rather than
side to side.
 A lot of fat on the body, upper
arms and thighs

Mesomorph

 A wedge shaped body

 A cubical head
 Wide broad shoulders
 Muscled arms and legs
 Narrow hips
 Narrow from front to back rather
than side to side.

Ectomorph

 A high forehead
 Receding chin
 Narrow shoulders and hips
 A narrow chest and abdomen
 Thin arms and legs
 Little muscle and fat.
Most of us are a combination of the three body types, see if you can find a sport to suit yours:

Running
Sprinters
Sprinters are tall and muscular with slim, yet powerful legs and are mesomorphic. Sprinters need
plenty of fast twitch muscle fibres, which give them a powerful burst of speed, often leaving them
exhausted after a race.

Long-distance/marathon runners
Marathon runners are smaller and lighter than sprinters. To succeed, they must have a high
percentage of slow twitch muscle fibres, which are built for endurance. Strict training allows their
muscles to store high reserves of glycogen — the fuel that keeps them running and helps them
withstand dehydration.

Swimming
Like Ian Thorpe, the perfect swimmer is tall with long arms and legs; extra large feet and hands
make good paddles. Short distance swimmers tend to be mesomorphs with more fast twitch muscle
fibres to give them a burst of speed.

Rowing
Rowers need to be tall and heavy, but have low body fat. Long limbs are an advantage and rowers
need to have serious aerobic fitness. They need a strong heart and lungs — elite rowers can take up
to 300 litres of air each minute.

Shooting
Yes, you do need to be fit to be a good shooter. Cardiovascular fitness allows a shooter to lower
their heart rate at the moment of firing providing a steady shot. If pistols are your game, a strong
upper body for stability is a plus.

Gymnasts
Small and slim women with a high strength-to-muscle ratio make the best gymnasts. Their body
must be supple and narrow to allow for bends and moves. They are overall the fittest of all athletes.

Weight lifting
A good weightlifter's body is generally average to short, with short arms and legs. Mesomorphs are
best suited to this sport and weightlifters need a high percentage of fast twitch muscle fibres for
intense bursts of energy.