For all of you who were fascinated by our recent discussion of hip shape in female athletes, here’s some more research you can do.
Of a serious scientific nature, of course.
You may note in the photos (among other things you may note) that most of these athletes appear to have the more masculine hip style I’ve already remarked upon in modern-day gymnasts. Again, these hip shapes seem to be a question of selection for and then exaggeration of (through training) a certain basic body type in each sport.
Exceptions to this hip shape seem to be (to my eye, anyway) #10, Melanie Adams, vaulter; #14, Ivet Lalova, sprinter; #16, Sarah Galimberta, middle distance runner; #17, Allison Stoke, valuter; and #20, Leryn Franco, javelin thrower. Note that there are two vaulters and one javelin thrower in that list, sports that apparently favor more of a tall thin model type and less of a mesomorph than so many other sports do.
I’ve noticed this in watching the hop, skip, and jumpers (otherwise known as the triple jumpers) the other day. If you dressed these women differently, some of them might be models. They look like someone took a piece of woman-shaped taffy and then pulled and pulled and pulled.
[ADDENDUM: And while we're at it, thighs matter (hat tip: Althouse).]
Previously a lifelong Democrat, born in New York and living in New England, surrounded by liberals on all sides, I've found myself slowly but surely 
August 6th, 2012 at 6:02 pm
A decade ago: orthopedists, therapists, trainers, and coaches, widely believed that the wider (“womanly”) hips of women athletes caused women athletes to suffer a higher instance of ACL knee injuries. It was widely believed that women athletes suffered a higher numbers of instances of foot landings which caused load bearing leg angles (running from foot to hip) which created trauma to ACLs. I do not know if this is still widely believed to be true. But, when I saw your original post on the wider shoulders/narrower hipped women athletes, I immediately reasoned that those women athletes were at less risk of ACL injury.
August 6th, 2012 at 6:26 pm
+1
August 6th, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Always with the javelin throwers. Nobody ever talks about the javelin catchers.
August 6th, 2012 at 7:15 pm
gcotharn: I’ve long heard about the increased prevalence of ACL injuries in women. The theory is that hip structure is part of it, but a great (and probably greater) part of it may be the knee structure itself, hormones, and especially the less strong supporting musculature around the knee.
See this.
Also, the knee injuries don’t seem to occur as much in track and field. Soccer and basketball are the biggest offenders (also gymnastics and I believe skiing) because of the twisting movements.
Shorter answer: they really don’t know why. My guess is that it’s a combination of many factors.
August 6th, 2012 at 7:52 pm
Hubba, hubba!
August 6th, 2012 at 9:37 pm
Hey, they look pretty and all, but there’s just something untoward with the exhibitionism.
Of course, it’s just another way of flaunting their physicality I suppose.
August 6th, 2012 at 9:50 pm
“…a piece of woman-shaped taffy…” Heh.
They’re all way too skinny for my taste.
August 6th, 2012 at 9:57 pm
‘ACL knee injuries’
At one time there was a Russian study purporting to show that women might be subject to uterine inversion under high g loads. So… one of the female astronauts sitting in the back seat of a T-38 prior to a training flight was asked by the pilot if she was going to be all right. Always prepared, she held up a large cork and announced that she would be just fine. True story.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:24 pm
Let’s see some child bearing hips. Cradle of civilization. Something like that.
My friend just told me his wife is preggers with twins! He is 47, and I was estatic. I get to be a godfather grandpa, just about the best position there is. I told him, yeah, do it, do it. He’s Irish and she is Asian. There’s some profligigation there. Oh boy!
The cemented doldrum of illiberal command is thwarted once again by the funnel of love!
August 6th, 2012 at 11:28 pm
Ed, I just saw that picture, and remembering the “drove the economy into a ditch” meme, that picture is, well, priceless. PRICELESS. Let’s email that picture everywhere.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:30 pm
You have to understand too, what “Follow me” is: It’s the motto of the infantry leader. Dogface, straightleg, groundpounder. Troop. Follow me.
August 7th, 2012 at 1:17 am
I don’t know much about the figures of female athletes, but from my perspective, the more glutonous the maximus, the better.
Sir Mix-a-Lot was right.
Or, as the old Bob Hope theme song goes, “Thanks for the Mammaries.”
August 7th, 2012 at 1:49 am
Journal Diary of an Olympic Athlete
Date: Today, a major win.
Main Thought: I won.
Description:
The headaches are worse, but I am able to accept them and even transform them.
The 400 meters is excruciating; I choose; I feel; I hurt; I know; I control.
They do not want to let me (you) run; I know that MRI. In fact, I know your MRI. I am you.
Into the storm will I run. Ruin or life, it is the same.
A small difference between us, but between us, I will risk all.
I will run.
August 7th, 2012 at 2:18 am
Men don’t normaly judge a woman on their physical appearance”……..
That’s what Harry Reid was told…..so you can take that to the bank!!!!!!!!
August 7th, 2012 at 3:49 pm
A high-school friend of mine was built just like Mary Lou Retton in Neo’s picture. She was an amazing gymnast. We went to the same university, where she didn’t even make the team because she wasn’t graceful enough. This was in the late 70′s. She really wasn’t graceful, but I’ll bet she’d make the team now. Watching the Olympics, I, too, was struck by the lack of grace and the jerky, awkward movements between tumbling. It seemed particularly bad this year.
August 7th, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Lisa M: agreed. Watching the gymnastics this year, it struck me that the old complaint that gymnasts aren’t really athletes but are instead performers/artists really is no longer true. There is no art at all anymore that I can detect.
August 8th, 2012 at 2:23 am
I decided to watch some Youtube videos of Nadia Comenici at the 76 Olympics. I was the same age as Nadia, and like everyone, I was completely blown away by her skill.
However, it was somewhat of a disappointment, after having watched the newer crop of gymnasts from 84 on. She’s mincing, graceful, cute and almost waiflike, but she didn’t do the kinds of exercises that gymnasts do now. We have really come a long way, baby!