‘Mummy, why do all of the runners have black skin?’

[MoiraRoseIsMyQueen]

So, my 5-year-old has just asked this question while watching the 100m heats, and I’m struggling to answer! Does anyone have any advice on how to respond, without making generalisations or being racist? I am so sorry if I sound ignorant but I said ‘because people from Africa tend to be very good at running because of their genetics’ - and then thought that is probably not a good answer. Help!

@Geamhradh

"each country chooses its finest athletes"

Then point out it's rude to comment on the colour of people's skin. Do you live somewhere very racially homogeneous?

It’s really not ‘rude’ to point out the colour of people’s skin!!!! How bizarre that you think so. I would never think it was rude if someone made an observation about my skin tone

Some countries are set up well for certain sports - eg Scandinavia and Poland produce a lot of good throwers. They have the facilities and the coaches. That's nothing to do with skin colour or race.

We have a mix of sprinters. Beth Dobbin and Amy Hunt (who is currently injured so didn't do the Olympic trials) are white; people like Darryl Neita or Dina are not. We seem to have more European heritage middle/distance runners now - eg Keely Hodgkinson getting the silver in the 800m (and Jemma Reekie 4th) and a white American getting silver in the steeplechase.

There was a guy who did a study of why East African runners are so good at running - it's not so much their physiology as the fact that they don't have Western sedentary lifestyles.

Congratulations to Team GB Joseph Choong and Kate French individual Olympic gold in the Modern Pentathlon men's and women's competition respectively! Joseph is British Chinese and Kate is English. Arguably the most challenging athletic sport in the Summer Olympics. China is still leading the Olympic medals golden harvest and will probably top the table. Interestingly the China team are all indigenous and not multinational or have any mixed international heritage backgrounds athletes unlike most other mixed teams. The Japanese too are also doing extremely well in their home games. Again Japan apart from the one black tennis player is very Japanese. However not all Chinese nor Japanese are the most able athletes so as for people of European or African heritage is is wrong to stereotype sporting ability with ethnicity. Gold medals are won by athletes of most ethnicities representing many national Olympic teams. I trust all children are inspired to achieve personal sporting success as there is a sport in every child that with much dedication and investment of time, energy and specialist resources can go on to reach fuller potential even at the global stage if the initial talent and strength is there!

So I think that it's waaaaaay more than just 'black people are fast'. There are many different regions involved each with individual reasons why running is such a hot sport.

For example can you imagine how many British children will be asking for a bmx bike this year for Xmas following the amazing examples set by Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte? These were great role models for children from all walks of life.

Jamaica for example has many legends in running. I imagine this would be a huge pull for many to get into running. It's a small island and there are lots of coaches looking for the next Usain Bolt or whatever. The interest is there.

The vast majority of Africa is not represented in the Olympic running events - only a few select areas tend to repeatedly have such amazing runners in these events. The reasons are specific to each area such as runners from the Nandi region. Worth a google.

It could be a question for example - why are there so many British rowers but hardly any basketball players. It's actually because rowing is a sport that is heavily funded because we tend to do so well in it (this year aside). Other sports don't get as much of a chance to take off because the chances of gold are lower. Bit of a catch 22.

Also to a 5 year old they will just see white and black, rather than British vs french for example.

How to explain all of this to a 5 year old though is tough. But it's certainly more complex than simply a genetic difference.

The funding for basketball was cut massively after the London Olympics. It was pretty controversial as players tend to be black. Not sure if they will get more for the Paris cycle.

Most 'black' people from the Caribbean and Americas (eg those on the 100m start line) probably have anywhere up to 30 or 40% European genes.

Certainly, the mixed white European / black American man who won the 100m is probably more European than African given his black American father was almost certainly nothing even close to 100% African! So let's say his mother is 95% white European or more, hid dad is 80% African and 20% European, and boom, you have someone who is more than 50% European genes winning.

So don't worry, Europe is represented in the genes in the line up!

;p