Can We Use Genetics to Assist the Young Competitive Athlete?

The potential use of genetic polymorphism in competitive sports is currently very challenging. One of the key factors for athletic career success is the identification of a sport event that best matches the athlete`s ability at a proper age. It is now well recognized that genetic polymorphism may be used by athletes and coaches as an additional, sometimes very important, piece in the puzzle of sport selection. In addition, participation in competitive sports may sometimes be associated with a higher risk for medical catastrophes. Recent studies have indicated that genetic polymorphism may also identify athletes who are at increased risk for serious sports-related medical injuries, and therefore may be used to prevent such events. Finally, it is very intriguing to suggest that genetic polymorphism may also be used as an assistant tool to improve and individualize the training process itself in order to optimize the athlete`s performance.