To determine if Caucasian middle and long-distance runners really have to accept the current domination of their events at world level by athletes from Africa as inevitable, the authors review the main intrinsic (genetic endowment, maximum oxygen uptake, running economy, fractional utilisation of VO2max, willpower and motivation) and extrinsic (lifestyle, training and environmental conditions) factors determining endurance performance. Their analysis of the scientific literature shows differences in intrinsic factors that could partly explain the excellent performances of African athletes, but that there is no scientific proof of inherent superiority. They then focus on the increasing weight of opinion that the apparent physiological "superiority" of African runners is due, at least in part, to extrinsic factors. They conclude that, though African runners may have certain, as yet unproven, genetic advantages, coaches and athletes in Europe can learn important lessons and, through a change in attitude and better training methods, increase their success even at the highest level of competition.
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