# Why do sprinters have powerful upper bodies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 15, 2004, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-sprinters-have-powerful-upper-bodies/259923 "2004-08-15T06:16:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-sprinters-have-powerful-upper-bodies/259923/21 "2004-08-16T05:15:31Z")
The answer to the OP is, in a nutshell: steroids, PEDs and focus on weight training for muscle size when using these products. People keep claiming, in order to debunk streroid claims, that ‘training has gotten so much better’…etc…etc…and ‘that is why so and so is pumped like a freak’. I am so tired of people dragging out this argument without substantiation. If anything, weight training hasn’t changed alot when it comes to building size. What we DO KNOW FACTUALLY, is that STEROID use IS more common, and the ability to mask use and stay ahead of the docs who test is a constant battle. There are great athletes sans drugs. Duh. No doubt. But at the highest of highest levels, on the most developed of developed individuals, it is safe to say the use of drugs is rampant in this microculture of athletes. The drug of choice for sprinters was Winstrol V for years. Has probably faded in use for designers drugs that are easy to mask. The “V” is for ‘vetinary use’. Most humans, even the elite of the elite, can’t run with the freaks who are already elite and then decide to get some horsey hormones in them. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-sprinters-have-powerful-upper-bodies/259923/22 "2004-08-16T13:39:43Z")
> [@The\_Llama](#): > > Just for the record, distance runners train in the gym with weights just as much (or at least nearly as much) as sprinters. The training is just different. Mid- to long- distance runners want to develop their fast twitch muscle fibers, which are explosively powerful, without being big and bulky. Sprinters aren’t as concerned by this, because they are freight trains that only need to run for a very short time. They develop their slow twitch muscle fibers (like football players) and aren’t afraid of being bulky. Plus, as **Zabali\_Clawbane** starts to point out, your upper body pushes you. One thing not mentioned, and it’s something that coaches of mine have pointed out forever, your legs will only go as fast as your arms are pumping. Sprinters need their upper bodies to be able to keep up with their lower. > One of my coaches was a world record holder (relay anchor). He was built like a tooth pick. Maybe 5’9" and maybe 120 lbs. There was no shoulder press machine out there that he couldn’t stack and do multiple reps on. It was just the method of his training stayed away from anything that would bulk him up. These theories that “they’re using steroids, and therefore are bulking up as a side effect” is not only wrong, but stupid and shouldn’t be perpetuated. Take a look at Carl Lewis. He was rather ripped and bulky, and people aren’t beating his WR by seconds, or even tenths of a second, but hundredths. Training has just evolved to not be afraid of the extra pounds of muscle. A few points: No sprinter will EVER beat a world record “by seconds.” That performance differential is simply not possible. You said your coach is a mid-distance runner, which is completely different from sprinting. Apples and oranges. Mid to long distance runners are focused on stamina. Sprinters on generating explosive power. Actually, long-distance runners do develop their fast-twitch muscles, to some extent. New research shows that FTM are important to being a world-class runner of any kind, although STM are much more important to the long distances. You mentioned sprinters today carrying around “extra weight.” If you mean larger musculature, yes, you’re correct, as we’ve all been saying. But if you measured body fat index, I’m guessing the values today would be the lowest in T&F history, although the differences wouldn’t be stark. My guess is that the last “clean” sprinting occurred sometime around the Olympic Games in Mexico City, or 1968. The times in the 100 meters seemed to reach a plateau somewhere around 1980, when you would see 10.15-10.2 as an excellent speed. Today, you wouldn’t stand a chance with that speed. Somewhere in the mid to late 80s, the times started dropping rather dramatically. Training techniques have improved, as have shoes and tracks, but such a drop seems unlikely to be explained without steroids/PEDs. P.S. “Flo Jo” cheated her way to the Olympic gold, and simply blew away the field, in a way I’ve never seen in Olympic history. It was well-known that she was a cheat. Even her teammates knew it, and said so. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-sprinters-have-powerful-upper-bodies/259923/23 "2004-08-16T16:48:43Z")
> [@Carnac the Magnificent!](#): > > P.S. “Flo Jo” cheated her way to the Olympic gold, and simply blew away the field, in a way I’ve never seen in Olympic history. It was well-known that she was a cheat. Even her teammates knew it, and said so. While her teammates did accuse of her cheating, Florence Griffith-Joyner did not fail any drug tests, so it’s still not proven. And never will be. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-sprinters-have-powerful-upper-bodies/259923/24 "2004-08-16T16:50:08Z")
Left out my concluding clause, “Because she has passed on.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-sprinters-have-powerful-upper-bodies/259923.md?page=1)