Syntax is completely wrong and no Somali or East African aspiring to become a professional athlete should listen to him.
Athletes are made not breed. No one wakes up a sprinter or a long distance runner. The real difference between West Africans and East Africans lies in Diet, Environment, Lifestyle and social norms. This can easily be overcome. Athletic ability is rather nature than nature.
Firstly, to become a successful professional athlete, you must choose the sport of desire at an extremely young age and work to prefect it. The younger the better. I see a lot of talented Somali athletes in all fields but I realize many lack the support structure, professional know how, have poor diets and lack understanding of exercise science (Extremely important).
The picture post by Syntax is disingenuous, one of an older man who doesn’t obviously require muscle for his event to a British sprinter named Chambers who has been caught taking STEROIDS/PED numerous times.
Let me tell you something, anyone, from any race and any starting point can build muscle, quality large muscle with the right diet, exercise regimen and with steroids. Fast twitch muscles can be built, no one is born with large muscles, and this is made through drugs, diet and exercise.
The real issues Somali lack is naivety. This kid in question is talented but he looks a bit too slim with the right diet, exercise regimen and steroids he could possible make the NBA. Somalis don’t realize people start taking steroids and PED at their teenage years, coaches and parents force their children to take Dbol, Tbol, Test, HGH and other steroids just to make the grade. If you ain’t using steroids you lost before the race started.
Don’t believe in these racial hypes. A lot can be explained by nutrient and environment. Kenya for example use to do terribly in Rugby 7s. Until they go themselves an “exercise scientist” and today the Kenyan 7s can match any Rugby Team in the world and even match those Islanders for size, strength and power. There’s a Kenyan called Daniel adongo who made the NFL, search him up, his physique is on the same level as any NFL player. Somali bodybuilder, Hassan Stunna Jama Physique is literally top 5% physiques in the world today. The guy in the picture posted by Syntax is a British sprinter, his best time is 9.97 and it has been matched by Adam Gemili half Moroccan/Iranian British sprinter. So what? Moroccans and Iranians are natural sprinters now? The fastest kid in the world for 100m is a Japanese kid.
Wallahi, Somali kids can do anything just need proper guidance and real advice. These kids of other races, a way ahead of the game but Somalis will understand the game later and catch on