奧運選手的演進與改變 (1924-2014)：英語精讀講義

The athletes of today are not only much better than those of the past, 文法

現今的運動員不僅比過去的運動員強得多，

they also look incredibly different.

外型也有著驚人的差異。

The weird thing is, 表達脈絡

奇怪的是，

scientists know that the human body hasn't evolved that dramatically in the past 100 years. 用詞

科學家知道，過去100年來人體並沒有發生如此劇烈的演化。

So why do Olympic athletes look so different now 表達脈絡

那麼，如今的奧運選手外型為何如此不同——

compared to the first Winter Olympics in 1924?

與1924年首屆冬季奧運時相比？

In the early 1900s,

20世紀初，

the ideal athlete was based on classical human proportions. 文化背景

理想運動員的標準以古典人體比例為基礎。

If we imagine body types distributed as a bell curve 用詞

假設我們把各種體型的分布想像成一條鐘形曲線，

with extreme body types being on the far ends,

極端體型位在曲線兩端，

it was the middle of the curve that was considered the best physical build. 文法

那麼曲線中段的體型就被視為最佳體格。

Athletes who were not too tall, but not too short, 文法

那些既不太高、也不太矮，

not too bulky, but not too skinny,

既不太壯、也不太瘦，

and well, average,

總之，各方面都很普通的選手，

were deemed as ideal for the Olympic pursuit.

被視為角逐奧運的理想人選。

But this has all changed. 表達脈絡

但這一切都變了。

Now athletes succeed based on their highly specialized body types,

如今，選手憑藉高度專門化的體型取得成功，

which allow them to excel in a world of growing competitiveness. 片語搭配

這種體型讓他們能在競爭日益激烈的世界中脫穎而出。

For example, athletes who are required to spin in the air,

例如，需要在空中旋轉的選手，

such as figure skaters or gymnasts,

像是花式滑冰或體操選手，

have been getting smaller. 文法

身材正變得愈來愈矮小。

These athletes with short specialized body types

這些身材矮小、體型高度專門化的選手

have an advantage over average or tall athletes, 片語搭配

比中等身材或高個子的選手更具優勢，

weeding them out at the elite level. 片語動詞

因而讓後者在頂尖賽場遭到淘汰。

In fact, in 30 years,

事實上，在30年間，

the average professional gymnast has shrunk from 5 ft 3 to 4 ft 9. 文法

職業體操選手的平均身高已從5呎3吋降至4呎9吋。

Computer simulations studying the physics of ski jumping 文法

研究跳台滑雪物理原理的電腦模擬

have proven that jump length increases drastically 講解

已證實，跳躍距離會大幅增加，

with a decrease in body weight.

前提是體重有所下降。

Throughout recent years,

近年來，

this has caused world-class ski jumpers to become extremely underweight, 文法

這導致世界級跳台滑雪選手的體重嚴重偏低，

including many examples of anorexia.

其中不少人甚至罹患厭食症。

With women competing in the Olympic ski jumping event for the first time this year, 文法

今年，女子首度參加奧運跳台滑雪項目，

their bodies are stockier and broader than their male counterparts. 用詞

她們的體格比男選手更結實、更寬厚。

As female ski jumping becomes more popular and competitive in the future, 文法

未來，隨著女子跳台滑雪愈來愈普及、競爭愈來愈激烈，

it's likely we'll see 文法

我們很可能會看到

the extremely thin ski jumping body type dominate the sport.

極度瘦削的選手體型成為這項運動的主流。

Hockey is also an example of visible body changes.

冰上曲棍球也是體型出現明顯變化的一個例子。

Studies looking at the past 26 years alone

僅針對過去26年的研究

found a steady increase through the years

就發現，隨著時間推移，

of nearly all variables measured. 文法

幾乎所有測量指標都在穩定上升。

This included height, mass, body mass index,

其中包括身高、體重、身體質量指數，

aerobic and anaerobic fitness, and even grip strength.

有氧與無氧體適能，甚至還有握力。

Since the 1920s, 文法

自1920年代以來，

hockey players have increased nearly 4 inches on average,

冰上曲棍球選手的平均身高增加了將近4吋，

from 5 ft 9 to 6 ft 1.

從5呎9吋增至6呎1吋。

So clearly the average Joe Olympian is a thing of the past. 慣用語

所以很明顯，「一般人身材」的奧運選手已成為過去。

But Science says the Games may now be a realistic goal

但科學顯示，如今參加奧運或許已是可以實現的目標——

for people of many different sizes and shapes.

對許多身高和體型各異的人來說。

Don't forget we have a new video out

別忘了，我們會推出新影片，

every day during the Olympics.

奧運期間每天一部。

Can't wait?

等不及了嗎？

Our amazing partners at the CBC already have five of the videos up now

我們超棒的合作夥伴CBC已經上架了其中五部影片，

for you to binge on.

讓你一口氣看個過癮。

Just head to cbc.ca/olympics/ScienceSays

只要前往cbc.ca/olympics/ScienceSays，

to watch them before anyone else.

就能搶先觀看。

Link in the description.

連結在影片說明欄。

But we also want to know your questions

不過，我們也想知道你對

for this special series.

這個特別系列有什麼問題。

Use the hashtag ScienceSays

使用#ScienceSays這個主題標籤，

and let us know your burning Olympic questions. 慣用語

把你迫切想知道的奧運問題告訴我們。

And subscribe for more awesome science videos.

也別忘了訂閱，觀看更多精彩的科學影片。