What makes a champion? Is it the total dedication to his or her sport? The hours of blood, sweat and tears spent training year after year, day after day, edging towards that end goal of being crowned champion?

Does the ultimate coach lead to champions? Having a coach with experience, drive and that X factor can definitely play an important role in the success of a player, but does the coach make the champion?

If a young kid were to look up to one of his sporting heroes and say "daddy… when I grow up I want to be the next Brian Habana", and then dedicates his life to gym, nutrition, rugby training, mental training, vision training, proper recovery protocols and all the other bells and whistles associated with the sport, will he be the next Brian?

The above mentioned factors are all extremely important on the road to becoming the ultimate champion, but without the correct genetic profile your chances are dim.

Genes maketh the man

If your parents have passed on a genetic profile of being naturally big boned, endomorphic (an individual who has a high fat percentage) he is more likely to succeed as a prop rather than a ballet dancer even if being a dancer is his ultimate dream.

You are what you eat? This is true to a certain extent. You are what your parents gave you. This statement is closer to the truth. You may have your dad's eyes or your mom's hair, but that's not all, as genetics go a lot deeper…

Certain diseases can also be inherited via your genetic profile. Alcoholism is one of them. Sure, alcoholism is affected by the atmosphere around you, but surprisingly enough you can genetically test if you are prone to alcoholism.

Your sporting ability can also be genetically predicted. Certain genes mean different things within humans. Some can predict if you are naturally prone to being fat, while other genes can predict if you more suited to power sports or endurance sports.

Genetics — the future of sport

So what is the use of all this info? We can't selectively give our kids super genes. We can't change our kid's genetics. True, but you can test your child's genetics and from the results get a better picture at what sport you child could do well in.

You can even test yourself. Ok, before we start recalling 'Gatticca' (the movie where individuals were judged and given jobs according to their particular genetic profile) and contemplating the moral aspect of all of this, remember that it is just a tool to give us a better picture rather than the end all in sport.

There is still that all important aspect of the 'X Factor' that causes some people to succeed even though there genetic profile would state differently.

How far is the future?

The future has arrived. It is possible to test your genetic profile with regards to sport. There is a company that tests your sporting genetic profile and gives you a training program and nutrition program according to your genetic profile and particular sport. The companies name is GeneSPORT.

If you would like some more info with regards to genetics and sport or would like to find out more about GeneSPORT, send me an email by clicking here.