Standing at a height of 6ft 3”, the reigning champion, Usain Bolt will be aiming to add to his impressive collection of six Olympic Gold medals. Currently holding both the World and Olympic records in the 100m sprint, Bolt’s successes have often been pinpointed to the height advantage he holds over his fellow athletes.

Having longer limbs, Bolt is not only able to hold his speed for a longer distance but his legs can also help to propel him to the front of the field.But taller athletes who compete in track events aren’t the only ones who benefit from having longer limbs.Swimming, Basketball, Volleyball, Boxing and Tennis are just some of the other Olympic sports where taller players hold an advantage over their smaller competitors.

Is there any way I can lengthen my limbs for sport?

Although your height and the length of your limbs are mostly genetic, there is still a way that you can make them longer. This is through a medical procedure called limb lengthening. There are differing version of limb lengthening surgeries, such the Guichet Nail which is a small screw, and more older but common techniques using telescopic rods inserted into the cartilage of the bone which then pulls it apart very gradually, one millimeter a day.

New living bone then grows along it to fill the gap and muscles, nerves, arteries and the skin also renew themselves.The process has also been a huge success in China and the US, where certain limb lengthening surgeries, such as Dr Guichet’s, that boast you to resume sports such as cycling in the same day.

There are also a number of success stories from people that have benefited in having this type of surgery from professional cyclists to recreational runners. So whether you are looking to improve your performances or one day even compete against the likes of Lebron James at the Olympic Games, limb lengthening may benefit you.

How does having longer limbs benefit certain sports?

Generally, sporting ability plays a huge part in how good people are at certain sports.

However, in most cases, longer limbs have many benefits that provide an extra edge over fellow competitors.

In the NBA (National Basketball Association), the average height of the players competing is listed at around 6ft 7” and in basketball, having longer legs and arms is extremely advantageous. Taller players are often thought to hold an advantage because when they shoot the ball at the hoop not only does it have less distance to travel but they will also be closer to the rebound.

Their ability to reach higher into the air also increases the likelihood of them being able to block other people’s shots. Standing close to 7ft, Hakeem Olajuwon is the NBA’s all-time blocks leader, proving that longer limbs are an advantage in Basketball.

Longer legs and arms are also favourable when it comes to competing in swimming. Whilst many believe this to be a main factor in the amount of drag a swimmer has to overcome in the water, many studies have found that it doesn’t necessarily increase with height.

Instead, taller swimmers who have bigger legs and arms tend to have bigger muscles, hands and feet to propel them through the water faster. You only have to go back as far as eight-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps to see how much of an advantage longer legs and arms can be.

Happy New Year! Over the Christmas period I’ve had my feet up. I’ll tell you all shortly about how my latest charity challenge went, it was eventful to say the least! I’ve also been thinking about doing my very first triathlon. Here are my thoughts:

When it comes to preparing yourself to take part in a triathlon, there is a need to ensure that you are fully focused and motivated. Over the course of the training for a triathlon, many people find that their focus falls solely on this activity. This means that many people will have a triathlon on the brain for much of their build-up to the race.

This means making some sacrifices and it means you may need to explain your training to others. If you have a wife, partner or close family, you need to try and balance the need to train with the need to see and look after them. This is definitely an area where triathlons need to have a complete focus in their life, so it helps to make sure that your friends and loved ones are on board as quickly and as comprehensively as possible.

One of the best ways that you can become fully focused on what a triathlon entails is to look at the equipment on offer and ensure that you have the right gear. There is a lot of clothing and equipment to choose from but there are some items that are more important than others. For instance, you definitely need to have access to a bike to take part in a triathlon. However, while there are many different styles of bikes to choose from, you want to choose a bike that is ideally suited to the terrain and nature of the event.

The right bike can make all the difference

This is where choosing from the range of time trial bikes may be of greater benefit to you. These bikes are slightly different from standard bikes in that they have handlebars or aerobars which reduce drafting. When it comes to time trials, cyclists are not allowed to draft, which places a greater level of importance on lowering the amount of aerodynamic drag of the rider and the bike. This style of bike can give you a much needed boost when it comes to taking part in the cycling event of a triathlon. There is not too much of a market for time trial bikes and triathlon bikes on their own but the popularity of both of these events ensures that the market which combines both of these elements will of be interest to many people.

When it comes to making the most of cycling, you also need to ensure that your diet is fully committed to the cause. A triathlete needs to take in the proper fuel to ensure that they are fit and ready for purpose in the build-up to the race. Training and taking part in a triathlon requires a great deal of training, which means that there is a need to be focused and to have enough fuel to get you through increased levels of work and commitment. This is where there is a huge need to tailor your diet and to ensure that your life is focused on getting the best training and performance levels.

Thanks for reading,

My wife is currently pregnant with our second child and we were discussing the other night about a possible fitness routine to help her get back into shape. She only has three weeks left to go and so far so good. A big thanks to Amy aka Mutha Fitness too for helping me write this article!

Exercising while pregnant may be the last thing on your mind if you find just getting out of bed on a morning a challenge. The one thing I would recommend though is to just stay active. If you didn’t go in the gym before you fell pregnant then you shouldn’t really consider going in now but everybody walks and so should you. A walk every day will be so beneficial to you and your baby and I’ll explain why in a minute. The most important thing is this though, safety. Safety for you and your bump so I’ve got a few exercise tips for you in this article.

Benefits

Everyone knows that when you exercise it helps you stay fit and healthy so staying active before, during and after your pregnancy can only be a good thing. Here’s a short list:

• It will help you prepare for when you are carrying the baby around with you. I can remember putting on a front baby carrier for the first time and saying to my wife, it was really heavy. She replied, that’s what I’ve been carrying around with me for the last few months!
• It will help you prepare for the physical elements during labour
• It gives you an energy boost
• It can reduce the risk of you getting some illnesses
• Constipation and back ache are a common problem with pregnancy and exercise will help keep these at bay
• It will help you sleep better. I’m currently writing another article about sleep and exercise so make sure you check it out
• It will also help you get back into shape quicker after giving birth

Safety

This is the number one priority and I can’t stress this enough. Plus, I don’t want to be writing anything that may put you and your baby in danger as I’m no Doctor. It’s common sense to not try anything that could make you slip or fall, so you shouldn’t be considering things like running! If you feel great throughout your pregnancy, then you should consider staying active by trying the following:

• Walking
• Yoga
• Swimming
• Pilates

Other tips include, making sure you’re wearing a comfortable maternity bra. This goes without saying but you should always make sure you warm-up correctly too. Take care with awkward positions, so things like sit-ups shouldn’t really be considered. Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water, you should be doing this anyway! The last tip is making sure you cool down, this will give your heart a chance to return to its normal rate gradually.

If you experience dizziness, short of breath, difficulty walking or any other type of joint pain then you should stop exercising immediately.

So there you go and I really hope this helps. I’m hoping to be back soon with some exercise tips once you’ve given birth so stay tuned. If Amy agrees, we may even use her as a case study but I’ll need to twist her arm to get some photos!

Stay fit, heathy and happy folks. One last thing, being a parent is the most challenging thing I’ve ever done but without doubt the most rewarding.