ABSTRACT
Black athletes of African origin display a distinct athletic superiority in international running events of varying distances. This phenomenon is also apparent in South Africa, where the performance of black long-distance runners dominates the performance of athletes from other ethnic backgrounds. As with the remarkable achievements of east and north African runners, the disproportionate success of black South African (SA) runners, compared to runners of other ethnicities, suggests that they could enjoy certain physiological advantages for endurance performance. However, the nature of any such advantages remains obscure. By investigating and describing performance-related traits specific to black SA runners, we can begin to identify the reasons for this African running phenomenon, both within South Africa and globally. In addition, identifying specific characteristics that are associated with distance running performance in these athletes may elucidate which physiological factors are central to endurance ability in general, ethnic considerations aside.
