Choose your parents wisely Team GB! Olympic medal success is 'in the genes' according to Manchester uni academic

By Chris Wosu

Team GB’s athletes need to do more than train hard to win Olympic gold but instead ‘choose their parents wisely,’ claims a Manchester academic.

As Britain hosts London 2012 Olympics, hopeful and expectant fans of Team GB may be wondering why nations such as China and USA are racing ahead in the medal table and leaving the home team in their wake.

According to Dr Alun William, of Manchester Metropolitan University, genes may have played a role in the performance of Olympians.

Dr Williams said: “The research shows that to succeed in sports you have to do all the training, but it’s also partly down to the genes that you inherit from your mum and dad, so you need to try and choose your parents wisely!”

However he adds that research into the area has only been taking place for little over a decade and there is still much to learn.

Dr. Williams adds that research into the area has only been taking place for little over a decade and there is still much to learn.

However Team GB have finally achieved gold after claiming victory in the Women’s Pair Rowing by means of Helen Glover and Heather Stanning’s heroic efforts.  

Ending Great Britain’s five-day-wait for a Gold medal, they become the first female British rowers to win an Olympic title.

“We kidded ourselves that there was no pressure. The last thing we said to each other was 'it's just for us, it's just for us', but it was for the whole of the team and the whole of the country,” Glover told BBC Sports.

Whether genes play a part or not Team GB still have a way to go before they catch China or USA who currently sit at the top of the medals table.

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