Athletic Sports (extract)

Physical Characteristicsof the Athlete How little this ability to make violent spasmodic efforts contributes toone's last­ ing orstaying power may be inferred from a glance at thelung-capacity. Here depth of chest is to be attributed largely to muscular development, and the strength of lungs to the power of exhaling with a quick, explosiveeffort. Contrast the form of the chest and waist in this case (Fig. 8) with that of the long-distance runner f om Yale (Fig. 6). In connection with jumping, themeas­ urements of W. B. Page, who recently rep­ resented this country inathletic contestsin England, will be interesting. Page has a record of 6 feet 3J inches forhigh jump­ ing. Considering his height (5 feet 6.9 inches), thisperformance is omething phe­ nomenal. We find his weight on the fifty- five per cent line, his height on the forty per cent, knee-height on the twenty per cent, sitting height just above the five per cent, pubic arch on the fifteen per cent, and height of sternum on the fifty-five per cent line. Although very short compared with the sitting height, the body is long compared with the stature, as evidenced by the high position of the sternum. This being proportionally several points above the total height onthe chart, itwould in- 76