There are two main reasons for pursuing research in the Sports Sciences. Firstly, by studying responses to exercise, we learn about the normal function of the tissues and or- gans whose function allows exercise to be performed. The genetic endowment of elite ath- letes is a major factor in their success, and they represent one end of the continuum of human performance capability: the study of elite athletes also demonstrates the limits of human adaptation because nowhere else is the body subjected to such levels of intensive exercise on a regular basis. The second reason for studying Sports...

There are two main reasons for pursuing research in the Sports Sciences. Firstly, by studying responses to exercise, we learn about the normal function of the tissues and or- gans whose function allows exercise to be performed. The genetic endowment of elite ath- letes is a major factor in their success, and they represent one end of the continuum of human performance capability: the study of elite athletes also demonstrates the limits of human adaptation because nowhere else is the body subjected to such levels of intensive exercise on a regular basis. The second reason for studying Sports...