Davide Ponzi
The evolutionary basis of sex differences in sports competition: from performance to vulnerability

Talk Abstract

The existence of sex differences in sports performance are well known. While it is generally accepted that these differences are the result of sex specific biological limits an understanding of the ultimate reasons for their existence is still lacking. Here I will argue that when applied to sports science the evolutionary principles of sexual selection and sexual conflict are powerful tools for revealing evolved constraints of athletic performance and their closely linked sex specific vulnerabilities in athletes and, consequently, in the general population.