Athletic Sports (extract)

Physical Characteristics of the Athlete comparatively short body is mani­ fest. The chest is small, and the girth of the chest in repose is proportionally larger than the girth of the chest when inflated. This is due to the fact that in most men the difference between the natural and inflated chest is due in part to the muscular de­ velopment, so admirably exhibited in Fig. 8, a,b. In Fig. 7, Chart IV., the breathing capacity reaches the ninetyper ct. class. Here thepectoral muscles show a compara­ tively slight develop­ ment ; but the breathing is largely abdominal, and the broad waist and deep chest indicate consider­ able mobility in the chest and abdominal walls. The gluteal mus­ cles about the hips are well developed, as are also the muscles of the thigh and leg. The development of the arms and shoul­ ders is not so favorable. The difference in favor of the right side of the body is 73 Figure 8, b. {See description, page 72.)